Oenophile's delight: No corking Uruguay's rising status as wine country

Uruguay is emerging as a wine tourism destination and exporter of fine wines: Since the late 1980s, vintners in that nation of more than 3 million people -- a population far outnumbered by cows -- have been replacing Muscat and Labrusca grapes used for locally consumed jug wines with the more worldly Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet, Merlot and their best-kept secret, Tannat. Read more here.

Can't just jet off to Uruguay to try these wines for yourself?

Here's a look at local merchants that specialize.

Photo: Claudia Capos / For The Times