What is more fun than trying a wine from a region you’ve never before tasted and liking it? Finding that wine for under twenty bucks. Often times, the lesser known regions will make excellent wines for years before the general public discovers them, and before their prices rise to match the quality in the bottle. Malbec from Argentina was that wine twenty years ago. Another lesser known wine that is also great with grilled beef is Tannat from Uraguay. If you haven’t tried it, this summer’s cookout would be a great time to give it a go.

Uraguay is just south of Brazil and just east of the center of Argentina on the Atlantic ocean. 90% of the vineyards are on the southern coast near Rio de la Plata, a tidal river that is the widest river in the world. The maritime climate, the ocean breezes and the moderating effects of the river all work together to keep the temperatures cooler than the inland areas of the country. Moderate temperatures are ideal for wine grapes.

Uraguay is a small country, about the size of Washington State, with fewer than 300 wineries, less than what you would find in Napa. But you can find some Uraguayan wines in Reno. Pisano is an excellent family-run winery. Their Cisplatino is a blend of 40% Merlot and 60% Tannat. Tannat, if you haven’t had it, is one of the most tannic wines in the world. But winemakers in Uraguay use processes such as micro-oxygenation, short maceration, low temperature fermentation, and oak aging in order to soften the tannins without losing the other flavorful phenolics of the wine. Blending with Merlot also helps to soften the tannins as well as add depth and complexity to the wine. This wine is full-bodied with aromas of black plums, boysenberry, spice, sweet herb and vanilla. It has high tannins, moderate plus alcohol and moderate plus acid, giving it great structure and elegance. They also make a Torrontes, a crisp, floral white wine with notes of lemon and dried oregano. And RPF, a pure Tannat that is very intense with aromas of ripe black cherry, ripe black plum, spice, kalamata olives, dried tobacco and rippin’ tannins. All these wines can be found at Total Wine. Most are priced under $20.

Uraguay is also building a reputation for the Albarino grape, the grape of green Spain, if you’re looking for a crisp white. But their Tannat, well, it should be the wine of the summer for your next cookout.