Tannat

Tannat is a bold, tannin-packed red grape with roots in southwest France, particularly the Madiran region. Its name comes from the Basque word “tanat,” reflecting the grape’s signature high tannin content. Madiran’s Pyrenean foothills offer the cool, slow-ripening conditions that help Tannat develop deep color, structure, and intense flavors.

While France remains its birthplace, Tannat has found a second home in Uruguay, where it’s celebrated as the national grape. It also grows in parts of Argentina, especially in high-altitude regions like Salta and Mendoza. The vine is vigorous and late-ripening, producing thick-skinned grapes that lend both color and structure to the wine. Careful vineyard management is essential to handle its robust growth and tannic potential.

In the glass, Tannat wines are dark and powerful, often showing blackberry, plum, cocoa, coffee, and subtle herbal or floral notes. The tannins are firm, giving the wines excellent aging potential and a bold, structured mouthfeel. With time, these tannins soften and the flavors integrate, revealing a complex and layered wine.

Tannat’s strength lies in its adaptability and its ability to make wines with serious presence. From the steep hills of Madiran to the sun-drenched vineyards of Uruguay, it consistently delivers deeply colored, intensely flavored wines that showcase both its heritage and its versatility.