It was a short plane ride from Curitiba to Porto Alegre.  I rented a car, headed for the land of grapes, wine and champagne of Brazil. For the next two-weeks I would visit over 30 wineries.  I was in heaven!!!

The Heart of the Wine Region of Brazil

Brazil’s wines and wine industry are not well known outside of the country, but with an internet search I was able to sketch-out winey visits.  (For more general information about Brazil’s wine and sparkling wine region please explore two sites: www.valedosvinhedos.com.br/vale/atrativos.php?view=22#null  and www.winesofbrasil.com/en/)

There are two main wine making regions in Brazil: One in the north along the equator (http://www.wine-searcher.com/regions-vale+do+sao+francisco) Vale do Sao Francisco (‘Valley of Saint Francis’).   This wine region is prolific, having two growing seasons annually produces grapes and wines for local consumption.   The second wine region is Serra Gaucha  in the southern states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa…