Home >Wine Store >Bodega Bouza Chardonnay

Pineapple, guava nectar, cinnamon, tropical fruit, caramel and dried fig.

Unless you've spent a lot of time in South America, this exotic white will probably be your first introduction to the wines of Uruguay. The Bouza estate near the capital of Montevideo is situated at the southern hemisphere latitude comparable to that of the best wine regions of Chile, Argentina, South Africa and Australia. The climate is warm but soothed by Atlantic breezes and is often compared to that of Bordeaux. Tannat, a grape imported by Basque immigrants in the 19th century, is Uruguay's best known export, but this Chardonnay proves that the whites are also worth a look. The Bouza family's small estate near the capital of Montevideo is only a decade old but is already producing some of the country's finest and most widely exported wines. Its meticulously grown Tannat, Chardonnay and Albariño wines have charmed British and American journalists alike and have generated serious interest in this emerging wine region, which is just beginning to stake out an international reputation.

This South American Chardonnay may remind you of some of the richer examples you've had from California. Pair it with richly flavored dishes like chicken curries, Moroccan tagines flavored with dates, raisins and almonds, or grilled swordfish with a mango salsa. Roast chicken is a particularly good match and has sufficient flavor to stand up to this powerful white wine. The browned skin's caramelized flavors marry well with the oak notes of the wine. Say goodbye to winter dishes with my Roasted Chicken on the Cocorico with Winter Vegetables.

Visitors to the estate are treated to a beautifully restored colonial chateau and tasting room as well as proprietor Juan Bouza's collection of immaculate classic cars.