ATLANTIC WINES OF URUGUAY
FAMILIA DEICAS WINERY
Coastal influence has a great impact in winegrowing. There are many attributes that affect the style of wines, and Uruguay, by having coastal proximity to the Atlantic Ocean is naturally gifted to producing high quality wines. If we have to highlight one of the main aspects of coastal influence, it would be the overall lower temperatures during the ripening of the grapes.
During this stage, days are usually mild to hot reaching up to 32°C or 90° F; however, at night these temperatures decrease substantially to around 10°C or 50° F. This is the result of the sea breeze, the natural cooling effect of the ocean. These characteristics allow for a balanced ripening profile of flavours and tannins, while naturally achieving refreshing acidity. Familia Deicas Winery has been the pioneer of Atlantic Wines in Uruguay.
With vineyards in twelve terroirs in different regions of Uruguay close to the Atlantic Ocean, including in the Garzon region of Maldonado, Cerro de Guazuvira in Lavalleja, and other micro terroirs in Rocha and Maldonado, Familia Deicas has vast experience farming oceanic vineyards. Santiago Deicas, third generation of the family and winemaker, has been specializing in finding terroirs close to the shore.
He explains: “Like winemakers planting in high altitudes, we are farming on the coast, searching for cooler weather. Wines from these regions reflect the uniqueness of the place, expressing more diversity when you have different soils. I think the Atlantic Ocean is what gives identity to Uruguayan wines, even more so than Tannat.”
Atlantic wines can be either modern, bright and full of energy such as in Galicia, Portugal and New York or can age gorgeously like in Bordeaux. Familia Deicas is making top-notch vanguard wines, notably the Extreme Vineyards or Massimo Deicas, and is also known for its iconic aging wine Preludio, which can be enjoyed 25 years after harvest.