Uruguayan wines about to make grand entrance

Wines from Uruguay are not available in the Chinese mainland, but when they are, prepare to be impressed. A tasting of wines in Hong Kong recently suggests Uruguay is ready to emerge onto the world stage.

Uruguay's signature grape variety is tannat. Winemakers are hoping consumers will come to connect tannat with Uruguay in the same way they associate malbec with Argentina or carmenere with Chile.

Uruguay has about the same population as New Zealand - 3.4 million compared with about 4 million Kiwis - and it is appropriate to note the similarities between the nations.