Will Brazilian Wine make the World?

You probably have heard about caipirinha, carnaval, football, and rain forest as Brazilian icons, you may also have heard about a very developed airplane industry or a boosting oil production as great Brazilian achievements, but have you ever hear about Brazilian wine?

You probably didn’t because Brazilian wine was  mostly manufactured for the intern market and had never reached a minimum quality standard to be sold abroad, but things are changing in Brazil, and they are changing fast.

Brazilian wine industry is growing in Brazil. Wine has been in existence in this tropical country for over 110 years, thanks to the European immigrants that settled there. They (Italians, Spaniard and Germans) brought their culture and wine making experience to south Brazil. Since then Brazil has created a range of vine varieties with European character: merlot, syrah, chardonnay, riesling, gewürztraminer, and cabernet sauvignon. Let us not forget tannat, malbec, pinotage and gamay which some Brazilian vineyards specialize in.

Brazilian climate presents challenges for the wine growing but it is not impossible to produce a high quality wine from Brazil. The high acidity of the soil plus the high rainfall works against of the quality, at the time grapes start to mature in Brazil, the rains start to fall. This stops the maturity process that grapes are needed to produce quality red wines. But that is all different when it comes to white wine grapes. White grapes do not go through this maturity process. Although of the climate barrier, is always good to remember that Brazil is an immense country and several micro climates regions exists.  

Focusing on these micro regions the Brazilian wine industry has grown immensely in the past couple of years. Along with that so has the consumption per-capita of Brazilian wine. Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc in particular are of high quality from Brazil, which are very aromatic.

Wine tourism is well organized in south Brazil. The region also offers the culture and gastronomy of Northern Italy, which can be found all over the Sierra Gaucha region.

Brazilian wine regions:

Sao Paulo

Founded in 1554 Sao Paulo is Brazil’s wealthiest state. It is the center of the Brazilian economy. Half of Brazil’s industry is based out of São Paulo; also thirty of Brazil’s 50 largest companies are in São Paulo. São Paulo population when last counted was 17 million and climbing. One in every nine Brazilians lives in São Paulo

Sao Paulo is home to millions immigrants that is the population growth. The Italians were the first to migrate into Sao Paulo at the end of the 19th century. The Japanese also migrated in the millions in the 20th century. This huge diverse mix of people created an industrial development which produced Brazil’s largest most educated people in Brazil.

Sao Paulo is on a high plateau. During the winter months it’s very cold and the during the summer months it get very hot.

Santa Catarina
The Natives joyfully call it Ilha da Magia (Island of Magic). When you spend a few days here will know why. Comprised of 42 beaches a person would be hard press not to find one that fits their needs.

Serra Gaúcha
The Serra Gaucha is the largest wine cultivation area in Brazil. It holds control of 90% of Brazilian wine production. Geographically it’s between 20 and 30 degree of latitude. The mild climate has differentiations between summer and winter and day and night temperatures.

Vale dos Vinhedos
Known as “The Wine Valley” it is located southern part of the country, 29 degree latitude. Italian immigrants also founded this valley over 100 years ago. As in the rest of the wine growing regions of Brazil a moderate climate also prevails here. Its sunny summer’s moderate rains are sufficient for wine. Most of these wineries are nestled along the hillsides that are 600 meters above sea level. The soil consists of basalt rock, which turns into muschelkak.
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Vale do São Francisco
Between 9th and 10th degree of latitude, thus making it the closets region of winemaking region to the equator. The wineries are located 350 meters above sea level in plain with an advanced irrigation steaming from Sao Francisco River. The climate is very tropical, which in include wet and dry seasons.

They are located on 80 hectares of fertile land. The production area is filled with old Muscatel vine varieties that were supplemented with 50 hectares of new cultivated areas.

Campanha
A fairly new wine area. It lies 31 degree of latitude, height of 300 meters with little gradients. It has a wonderful view, great climate, and very light rainfall.

Campos de Cima da Serra
It is over 1,000 meters below sea level. Campos de Cima da Serra is a region on the rise but still the smallest in size.

Small good regions can add a lot of value, Brazilian wine has already reached some markets abroad, until now the strategy was pricing but the future is headed to quality good wine.