Cidade Turismo
Uruguay
Wineries of Canelones

Canelones · Uruguay

Wineries of Canelones

The main wine region of Uruguay, land of Tannat, about 45 km from Montevidéu: family-run wineries with guided visits and the town where the national flag was born.

Montevidéu e arredores

In the photo: Establecimiento Juanicó, Canelones

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The department of Canelones, adjacent to Montevidéu, is the heart of Uruguayan viticulture. The metropolitan area gathers most of the country's wineries, almost all family businesses founded by European immigrants. The signature grape is Tannat, brought from the Madiran region in southwestern France by Pascual Harriague in 1870.

The route is based in the city of Canelones, capital of the department, about 45 to 50 km from Montevidéu via Ruta 5. There the first national flag was created in 1828, commemorated by the Monumento a la Bandera in Plaza 18 de Julio, next to the Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe.

The wineries open to visitors are scattered between the city and Montevidéu: Establecimiento Juanicó, of the Deicas Family, with a cellar linked to the Jesuits; Pizzorno and Castillo Viejo, neighbors in the Canelón Chico and Las Piedras area; Varela Zarranz in Joaquín Suárez; and Antigua Bodega Stagnari in Santos Lugares. On the border with Montevidéu are Bouza, in Melilla, and Carrau, in Colón.

Since distances are short, you can do everything as a day trip from Montevidéu. Almost all visits require reservations and end with a tasting or a paired lunch. Whoever drives should not drink: many people go on organized tours, use transfers offered by the winery itself, or hire a driver.

This destination brings together 1 city: Canelones.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Wineries of Canelones is
Canelones

Contornos: Servicio Geográfico Militar / IDE Uruguay, Licença de Dados Abertos. Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Wineries of Canelones

✈ Aeropuerto Internacional de Carrasco (MVD), in Ciudad de la Costa · 59 km to Canelones

The city of Canelones is about 45 to 50 km from Montevidéu via Ruta 5, and Carrasco Airport (MVD) is around 60 km away. Check before booking.

The local experience

Things to do in Wineries of Canelones

Plaza 18 de Julio
Canelones · Canelones · Square

Plaza 18 de Julio

Main plaza of Canelones, existing since the village's foundation. In the centre stands the Monumento a la Bandera, 16 metres high, a tribute to the first national flag, created in the city in 1828.

Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
Canelones · Canelones · Church

Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe

Catedral de Canelones, erected in 1843 next to Plaza 18 de Julio and dedicated to the patron saint who gave the original village its name. It has a mechanical organ from 1900 and is a Monumento Histórico Nacional.

Establecimiento Juanicó
Canelones · Canelones · Winery

Establecimiento Juanicó

Winery of the Familia Deicas on Ruta 5, near the village of Juanicó, on lands that once belonged to the Jesuits. The visit includes the subterranean Cava de Preludio, and there is a restaurant with a seasonal menu.

Pizzorno Family Estates
Canelones · Canelones · Winery

Pizzorno Family Estates

Family winery since 1910, now in its fourth generation, in the Canelón Chico region. It has welcomed visitors since 2014, offering tours of the vineyards, winery and cellar, tastings with local cheeses, and paired lunches.

See 5 more places in Wineries of Canelones
Bodegas Castillo Viejo
Canelones · Canelones · Winery

Bodegas Castillo Viejo

Winery of the Etcheverry family, founded in 1927, on Ruta 68 near Las Piedras. The guided tour ends in a century-old cellar, where wines are tasted with cheeses and cured meats.

Viña Varela Zarranz
Canelones · Canelones · Winery

Viña Varela Zarranz

Winery in Joaquín Suárez with a bodega dating from 1888, an entrance flanked by centenary olive trees and a cellar with French oak barrels from 1903. The visit is guided by a family member.

Antigua Bodega Stagnari
Canelones · Canelones · Winery

Antigua Bodega Stagnari

Family winery from 1928 in Santos Lugares, La Paz, on Ruta 5, about 25 km from Montevidéu. The vineyards grow on very old pink granite, and the visit ends with a tasting and homemade empanadas.

Bodega Bouza
Canelones · Canelones · Winery

Bodega Bouza

Boutique winery in Melilla, in the rural area of Montevidéu, open every day with guided tours and a restaurant. It has a garage with classic cars and motorcycles and was a pioneer of Albariño in Uruguay.

Bodegas Carrau
Canelones · Canelones · Winery

Bodegas Carrau

Winery of a family with a wine tradition dating back to 1752, in Catalunha. It operates in an 1887 bodega in Colón, Montevidéu, with a colonial house, park and vineyard, and offers guided visits by appointment.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

You can visit year-round. The harvest usually runs from late February to March, with white grapes first and reds afterward. October, November, April and May have mild days for walking among the vineyards. Summer, from December to March, is hot. From June to August it is cold and windy, and visits are concentrated in the cellars.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

In one day, leaving from Montevidéu, you can visit two or three wineries with a lunch and stop by Plaza 18 de Julio. With two days, the route includes the wineries on the border with Montevidéu, such as Bouza, Carrau and the Antigua Bodega, without rushing. Three days allow for longer visits and a relaxed pace between tastings.

Which city to stay in

Most visitors stay in Montevidéu and do the wineries as day trips, since none are more than an hour from the city center. Those who prefer to wake up near the vineyards can stay in the city of Canelones, around Plaza 18 de Julio, where shops and restaurants are located. Las Piedras and La Paz, along Ruta 5, are close to Pizzorno, Castillo Viejo and the Antigua Bodega. Some wineries have their own accommodation; check when booking.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Wineries of Canelones

Can you visit the wineries of Canelones on a day trip from Montevidéu?

Yes — and it's the most common way. Bouza and Carrau are about 20 km from Montevidéu's center, Pizzorno and Castillo Viejo about 30 to 35 km, and Establecimiento Juanicó about 45 km. In one day you can fit two or three visits with lunch, provided everything is booked.

Do I need a car to visit the wineries?

A car gives freedom, but whoever drives should not drink, and the visits end with tastings. That's why many people prefer organized tours, a hired driver, or the transfers that some wineries offer from Montevidéu, such as Varela Zarranz and Pizzorno's combined routes.

Do I need to reserve visits?

In practice, yes. Wineries operate on scheduled times for guided tours and require reservations for lunches. Book before you leave home and confirm opening days, which vary from one to another.

What's the best time to go?

The harvest usually takes place from late February to March and is the busiest time in the vineyards. Spring and autumn have mild weather. In winter, from June to August, it's cold and windy, but the cellars and lunches continue operating.

Which wine should you try in the region?

Tannat is Uruguay's signature grape and appears in almost all tastings. There are also Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Albariño, as well as sparkling wines. Tastings are usually accompanied by cheeses, cured meats or empanadas.

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