Bodega Bouza

Riesling Vinedo Pan de Azucar

Uruguay, Maldonado

2024

The idea of growing riesling in Uruguay's Maldonado region came about in 2007. Planted in the coastal Pan de Azúcar sub-region of Maldonado, the ocean influence works well with riesling, tempering the summer heat and lending the wine a lick of salt and wet stone minerality. Enjoy it with sashimi.

Family‑run Bodega Bouza has been instrumental in elevating Uruguay's fine‑wine credentials since the early 2000s. Working with granitic and schist soils around Montevideo and Maldonado, the estate focuses on low‑yielding vineyards. The Riesling Viñedo Pan de Azúcar originates from coastal granitic slopes that deliver marked salinity and tension. Hand harvesting, whole‑bunch pressing and cool fermentations in stainless steel preserve aromatic detail.

Riesling Viñedo Pan de Azúcar

Extended lees ageing adds mid‑palate texture without compromising linearity. The winery prioritises micro‑vinification, allowing individual parcels to be assessed for acidity, phenolic structure, and aromatic precision before blending. Bouza's commitment to minimal intervention – paired with meticulous farming – results in wines that combine Atlantic vibrancy with subtle complexity. The riesling's profile is shaped by long hang‑time, ocean‑moderated nights, and the estate's emphasis on purity over opulence.

Tasting
NOTES

It's all about the citrus and tropical fruit when it comes to this Uruguayan riesling, which hums with notes of Meyer lemon, grapefruit, pineapple, passion fruit and red apple. The same notes are mirrored on the zesty, mouth-watering palate, along with melon, peach, acacia and honeysuckle. It's a full-bodied, textural, well-balanced expression with racy acid, a wet stone mineral core and a long, salty finish. A spoonful of sugar keeps the acid in check.

Food
PAIRINGS

Try this sprightly Uruguayan riesling with white fish sashimi with wasabi and ponzu, clams with lemon and coriander, grilled asparagus with a nettle sabayon, or a wiener schnitzel with cranberries.