Discover Brazilian wines

When one thinks of Brazil, what comes to mind? The answer is usually: “a tropical country with beautiful beaches and a passion for soccer, samba and Carnival.”

According to “Wines of Brasil” Organizational Manager Andreia Gentilini Milan, Brazil is a lot more than the preconceived notion most of us have. Brazil is diverse and growing at an extremely fast pace.

Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world and soon to be the fifth largest economy. It is the largest country in South America and will host the soccer World Cup in 2014 and the Summer Olympics in 2016.

Brazil is also home to a vibrant and ever-growing wine industry that exports its wines to over 30 countries worldwide, including 10.7 percent of worldwide sales to the United States.

Add recent technology investments in the wine industry paired with focused, creative wine makers, and you become a country that is now competing with the world in wine challenges and competitions. The winner, of course, is the consumer.

There are over 1,150 wineries in Brazil. Many occupy as little as five acres. Brazilian wineries occupy four diverse regions in the country.

The majority of the wineries and Brazilian wine production (85 percent) takes place the “Serra Gaucha” region. This is the largest and most important wine region in Brazil. The region is known for its European grape varietals, which include: Chardonnay, Malvasia, Muscat, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Tannat and Cabernet Sauvignon.

The wines from Serra Gaucha are fresh, fruity and extremely well-balanced. Most vineyards practice hand harvesting, thus picking the grapes at their peak of freshness.

Low, fertile soil coupled with moderate dry summers and cool winters play home to the “Campanha and Serra do Sudeste” region, located on the southern Brazilan border with Uruguay. The grape varieties of the region include Chardonnay, Gewurtzaminer, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Tempranillo, Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon and Touriga Nacional.

The “Planalto Catarinense” region rises 3,000 to 4,500 feet above sea level. Moderate summers coupled with cool winters create grapes that thrive in this environment. The region is home to Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir.

The “Sao Francisco Valley” region is home to a warm, sunny, dry climate that produces wines with a high level of sugar, which results in fruit-forward wines. Grape varietals include Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Malvasia Bianca, Muscat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Tempranillo.

A few days ago, I had the opportunity of tasting 73 wines from all of the Brazilian regions I spotlighted (Serra Gaucha, Capmanha and Serra do Sudeste, Planalto Catarinense and Sao Francisco Valley) earlier in this article.

What I learned was these wines are world class and will explode onto the U.S. market in the very near future. The wineries have backing and true support from some of the largest and most-linked importers and distributors in this country. The high quality of the wines paired with moderate pricing will create a large demand.

Brazil’s neighbors, Chile and Argentina jumped on the bandwagon several years ago. Brazil will be next.

My favorite Brazilian vineyards who are on the U.S. wine shop shelves are Vinicola Aurora, Basso, Casa Valduga, Geisse, Don Guerino, Lidio Carraro, Miolo, Perini, Vinicola Salton, Villaggio Grando and Vinibrasil. If high quality and moderate price are a factor, then Brazilian wines are the obvious choice.

“Open your mind, drink Brazilian wines,” said Andreia Gentilini Milan. “I guarantee it will be a surprising experience.”

And I agree.

Posted by Phillip Kampe on October 18, 2012. Filed under Columns,Food,Opinion,Wine and Beyond. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry