Colombian Winemaker Creates Wine From Santander’s Famous Big-Ass Ants

Sao Moro, a self-taught winemaker from San Vicente de Chucurí in Santander, Colombia, has created a wine using hormiga culona, the renowned large-bodied ants traditionally consumed in the region. The decision to incorporate hormiga culona into the wine followed the success of his avocado wine, which gained international attention and led to visits from France, Italy, the Netherlands, Mexico, and Spain.

After experimenting with various local ingredients, including cacao, coffee, and avocado, Moro found that avocado wine presented unique challenges due to its fat content, necessitating a specialized process to remove it and prevent deterioration. With the success of avocado wine as a foundation, Moro expanded his product line to include hormiga culona wine.

The new wine, which took about a year to perfect, is set to be presented in Zapatoca in January 2026. It has been tested for stability and storage conditions before its public debut. The hormiga culona wine, along with products made from avocado, cacao, and coffee, will be showcased at Bucaramanga's BucaraFest, an event organized by the Bucaramanga Institute of Culture and Tourism.

The festival will take place from September 10-13 at Plaza Cívica Luis Carlos Galan Sarmiento and Parque Garcia Rovira, providing a wider audience with the opportunity to experience the unique flavors and cultural significance of Santander's traditional ingredients.