When we think of Brazil, we automatically think of beaches, sun and an almost eternal summer climate. Such image is justifiable, of course, but truth is Brazil has destinations and landscapes that go far beyond its business card. And these out of the norm itineraries are growing as tourist options for all segments, from leisure to business trips. Following the resumption of tourist activities in post-pandemic, which in Brazil points to the preference for short trips and next to the nature, the wine tourism segment is in full bloom again.
Tourism associated with culture, tradition and wine appreciation gained force in the country, parallel with the tourist service infrastructure, with a large supply if hotels, inns, bars and restaurants. According to the Brazilian Viticulture Union (Uvibra), wine tourism is largely responsible for supporting small family business and wineries, which represents the majority in the sector. In addition, betting on sensory experiences, capable of creating memories for a lifetime, these local wineries do not measure efforts to create new attractions around the culture of wine.
Have you ever thought about providing a travel experience in Brazil that is completely different from what your team can imagine? We have prepared a brief overview of the most important wine tourism itineraries in Brazil, travel options capable of providing moments of relaxation and cultural immersion in a single package.
South region
Vale dos Vinhedos
Located between Bento Gonçalves, Garibaldi and Monte Belo do Sul, the Vale dos Vinhedos Wine Route has been part of the cultural and historical heritage of the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul since 2012 and has a strong influence of Italian immigrants who arrived in Serra Gaúcha in mid-1875.
Vale dos Vinhedos attracts visitors for its nice tourist infrastructure, beautiful landscapes of the vineyards and grape-based drinks of the highest quality. In fact, it was the first producing region in Brazil to achieve Indication of Origin (IP) status in 2002, and they achieved the Denomination of Origin (DO) seal in 2012, which qualifies even more the wine produced in the region.
Just 122 kilometers from Porto Alegre and 120 kilometers from Gramado, Vale dos Vinhedos it is the ideal destination and one of the most sought after for the practice of wine tourism in Brazil. The Vale dos Vinhedos Route includes many points that can and should be visited, such as guided tours of small rural properties, large wineries and family-owned wineries, cheese, biscuit, sweets and jellies warehouses, bistros, handicraft workshops, among other places intended for leisure, gastronomy and local culture.
To learn more about the best attractions and wineries on this unmissable itinerary, see our complete review about Vale dos Vinhedos here.
Region of Campanha Gaucha
The Campanha Gaucha, referred to also as Fronteira, is located almost on the border between Brazil and Uruguay, very close to the beginning of the range traditionally considered ideal for viticulture, between the 30th and 50th parallels. Specialists consider its climatic conditions even better than those of the renowned Serra Gaucha and the place has grown into an important route for wine tourism in Brazil.
With good local climate, investment in technology and the will of the local business, the region is already producing wines of superior quality, taking a spot among the largest wine producers in Brazil. Places that worth a visit: Guatambu and Dunami wineries in the municipality of Dom Pedrito, Cordilheira de Santana and Almaden of the Miolo group in Santana do Livramento and stop by Rivera, Uruguay, to visit Bodega Cerro Chapeu.
Serra Catarinense, Santa Catarina
Tasting the best fine wines at altitude is another great reason to visit the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, in the southern region. After years of investment and research, the state has conquered a well-deserved space in the production of quality fine wines. The perfect teroir, selected grapes and vineyards located between 900 and 1,400 meters above sea level guarantee a high standard of production. The Contestado Valley and the Serra are the two major producing regions, full of natural beauty, where the cold climate allows the grape varieties to mature slowly and completely.
The excellent geographical conditions, combined with the use of modern technologies and the work of qualified winemakers, resulted in sparkling, white, rosé, red and natural sweet wines, with intense and striking characteristics, typical of high altitude terrains. The Altitude Wine Route, the renowned birthplace of the Brazilian Sauvignon Blanc, offers the beautiful landscapes of Santa Catarina as a perfect accompaniment for wine tourism travelers to taste the rich and varied local production.
With a boutique profile (small production and focus on quality), the local wineries are beautiful and very well prepared to welcome visitors who want to know more about the fascinating world of wine, or simply enjoy a glass in front of the stunning landscape of the vineyards. Many also house great restaurants. Among the many unmissable stops on this itinerary of charm and flavors, the following stand out: Villa Francioni, Vinhedos Monte Agudo, Leone di Venezia, Abreu Garcia and Thera.
Northeast Region
San Francisco River Valley
Not many people can imagine that in the heart of Sertão Nordestino, a Brazilian region with a mostly arid climate is producing very high quality wines and sparkling wines, renowned and exported worldwide. This almost miracle is possible thanks to agriculture irrigated by the waters of the mighty Sao Francisco River, one of the largest and most important in Brazil. The grapes from the Valley are famous for their flavor, succulence and accentuation provided by the action of the sun. Such differential that has worked well in the production of local grapes and has attracted more and more wine lovers from Brazil and all over the world.
- Top 3 grapes of Vale do Sao Francisco: Syrah , Tempranillo and Moscato.
- The region produces the so-called tropical wines, with originality and identity of the tropical region, distinct in the wine-growing world.
- In the same day, it is possible to see the vineyards in different phases: resting, pruning, sprouting and harvesting.
- In the Vale do Sao Francisco, the vine cycle is 4 months long, resulting in atypical 2 harvests per year (1 harvest per year is the standard).
- Harvest seasons: from April to August and from October to February.
- The region is responsible for 90% of the production of table grapes in Brazil and the largest producer of mango in the country.
The highlights of this incredible itinerary for wine lovers are Vinhos Rio Sol, Vinhos Botticelli and the Terranova Winery, from Grupo Miolo.
Southeast region Wine Tourism
Sao Paulo state
Wine tourism in Brazil does not take place only at Serra Gaucha. There are several must see wineries in the beautiful Sao Paulo state. Visitors can also experience tours that include picking grapes from the tree, strolling through the vineyards, tasting wines and local produced cheeses.
Located in Espírito Santo do Pinhal, in the state of Sao Paulo, Vinícola Guaspari produces quality fine wines, today with 50 hectares of own vineyards from which all wine is produced, especially Syrah , Viognier , Chardonnay grapes. The visit program includes a tour of the winery, a guided tour of the fabric and the cellars, a talk about the manufacturing process, wine tasting accompanied by cheeses and breads and a special harmonization program called Guaspari & Kitchin Tasting Menu.
Located in Itobi, in the Casa Branca region, Casa Verrone is today a reference in the production of very high quality fine wines. The site has 30 acres planted with European vines, especially Syrah and Chardonnay grapes.
The Vinhos Canguera, in the municipality of Sao Roque, is the perfect destination for wine lovers! In this charming complex, visitors can get to know the winery up close and buy products. They can also interact with its beautiful history, strolling through the wine museum with aldo machinery. Lunch on site is a must.
The small town of Santo Antônio do Jardim, almost on the border with Minas Gerais state, is home to the welcoming Vinícola Terra Nossa at an altitude of 1,100 meters. Born by the hands and will of five wine-loving friends-partners, the business started with a small production, just for family and friends.
The sun, climate, water and human intervention, in addition to the proximity to the west face of the Serra da Mantiqueira, favor the development of high quality vineyards and grapes with high fructose contents. For the time being, Terra Nossa offers three products: a 100% Syrah, a Rosé de Syrah and a Classic Syrah, more complex, with an intense red color, robust tannins and notes of black pepper and black fruit.
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