ABSTRACT - Although the ancient Vitis vinifera Tannat variety is virtually unknown in the international wine market, the strategy to promote it as the Uruguayan emblematic grape variety is starting to become successful in the red wines market. This paper presents a summary of the latest research and developments performed in Uruguay with Tannat since the late 1970s, its origin and production statistics. As an expression of the state-of-the-art viticultural technology developed in Uruguay for this variety during the last ten years, the chemical characterization of the polyphenolic and aroma profiles, typical for this variety, is also presented. The high polyphenolic content of this V. vinifera variety, when compared to other red grapes, confer its wines a high free radicals scavenging activity. Furthermore, from the winemaking point of view, some New World wine-producing countries have planted this grape to blend it with their own varieties, with the purpose of adding more structure and aging potential to their premium red wines.