URUGUAY UNCORKED: BODEGA GARZÓN WINES
WE RECENTLY FOLLOWED an invitation to a winemaker’s lunch with Enologist Mele Sosa from Uruguay’s renowned Bodega Garzón, held at Vancouver’s Michelin Guide restaurant, Miku. This wasn’t just a lunch—it was an experience of tasting Garzón’s artfully crafted wines alongside Miku’s exquisite Japanese-Western fusion cuisine.
Bodega Garzón, located in Uruguay’s Maldonado region, is celebrated not only for its award-winning wines but also for being the world’s first fully LEED-certified winery. Known for Tannat, Uruguay’s star grape, Garzón also produces an Albariño that has just debuted at BC Liquor Stores.
The pairing journey began with a Hokkaido Scallop Crudo alongside the Albariño Reserva 2022. The wine’s fresh acidity and notes of peach, citrus, and a whisper of saline brought out the scallop’s natural sweetness—a nod to Garzón’s Atlantic-cooled terroir.
For the second course, we savoured Aburi Iwate Wagyu paired with the Cabernet de Corte Estate 2021. This Cabernet Franc-dominant blend charmed with black fruit, green pepper, and a touch of minerality, which complemented the wagyu’s richness and Miku’s signature flame-seared style.
Next, Duck Breast met its match with the Tannat Reserva 2020. Rich and bold, with black plum, tobacco, and a touch of dark chocolate, the Tannat harmonized with the duck’s savoury profile, capturing what makes Uruguay’s Tannat world-renowned.
The fourth course brought a pairing of Aburi Premium Oshi and Garzón’s acclaimed Balasto 2018. With complexity, depth, and layers of red and black fruit mingling with earthy tones and refined tannins, this red blend mirrored the intricate, bold flavours of Miku’s pressed sushi masterpiece.
Dessert, a Petite Green Tea Opera Cake, finished the afternoon on a light yet decadent note.