It all started with an offer. An offer I couldn't refuse. My home university in Munich (TUM) enabled a study trip
to Brazil for agricultural students. When I've received the schedule containing all the big companies we were
going to visit I realized that we weren't going to visit any winery so I decided to stay there for another week.
You shouldn't visit Brazil without spending some time in one of the wine-growing regions where the amazing
wines are getting produced and no one even knows about them. E.g. the percentage of the Vitis vinifera grapes in
relation to all grapes in Brazil still is about a humble 10%. Vitis labrusca still takes first place in matter of quantity.
Everything started in the 1875s when Italian settlers moved to south of Brazil. They were the first settlers who
started to work with Brazilian people who had a totally different attitude and know-how in wine making. While
in the past only American wild grape varieties have been cultivated, the influence of these settlers brought a new
philosophy: granted grape varieties of Vitis vinifera grapes, special trellis and training systems, such as VSP...
The problem has been that in former times there was no real qualitative viticulture as there haven't been any
imported wines which could give a competitive basis.
In the 70's when the law allowed to import wine for the domestic market there have been few big wineries that
were important. "This law that allowed importing wines from Argentina, Chile, France... gave an opportunity to
restart work to survive", as Patricia Carraro mentioned. Flavio Pizzato states "the real quality wine making began
in the 90s when the wine import already was legal. Until that time people rather drank sweetened wines that still
can be found on the shelves in the stores under the name of Suave". But the contract at former times that facilitated
international wines to come to Brazil with even lower taxes than are on Brazilian wines themselves is one of the
main reasons why 50% of all wines in Brazil are import wines.
The first quality wine that was produced in whole Brazil has been out of the Merlot grape. All the vineries I have
visited where kind of very proud on their first Merlot they have produced...And do you know what? Merlot is the
grape variety I do not really like and not even the best Bordeaux could convince me...but these wines from Brazil
where just straight, with such a harmony that displays many of the same aromas and flavours, black cherry,
currant, cedar, and green olive, with mint, tobacco and tea-leaf tones. The structure, simplicity of flavour, and
more elegant style of Merlot wines I got the chance to taste there could really convince me. We got the chance to
taste some of the best vintages in Brazil, such as 2005 and 2012. The grapes have been almost at the limit of
drying, what could be tasted in those wines which were much fruitier with more body and higher concentration.
The Soil The soils in Brazil are very diverse. While in the region of Rio Grande do Sul the soil originates from basalt, a
dominance of Camisoles can also be found with a percentage of over 50%. Lithic Entisols, Clayey Soils and
Nitisols are less common. Camisoles are soils in evolution, still in formation. They are well drained, medium to
high depth and they are originally acidic.
While the red clavy soils are richer and offer protection from the sun, there is no need for fertilizers while the
yellow clavy soils are rather dry and do also need nitrogen fertilizers application, (boron, sulphur, nitrogen). The
aspect of "Terroir", which was picked up in their philosophy by many upcoming producers such as Lidio Carraro,
I want to discuss in detail later on.
The first point of destination was Miolo Wine Group in Vale dos Vinhedos, Bento Goncalves:
21.08.201210.00 a.m. Miolo Wine Group
Juseppe Miolo started in 1890 to produce wine just for consumption. As Italian immigrant, in 1990 the first harvest
of the Merlot grape was done and the first launch on the market has been 1994. This brought a big success. 1999
the people working for him started to handle with lower training systems that resulted in more concentrated wines.
While barrels have been used until the 90s, 1999 also new tanks of 2500l have been one of those big investments.
Nowadays Miolo has grown to one of Brazil's largest wine producing companies with vineyards as well in Vale
do São Francisco (Vinícola Ouro Verde/ Terranova), where even two harvests are possible and the wines do have
more alcohol and less acidity, Campos de Cima da Serra (RAR), Serra Gaúcha (Vinícola Lovara), Vale dos
Vinhedos (Vinícola Miolo), the one where I have been and Campanha (Seival Estate, Vinícola Almadén) a region
where the period from January to March is usually very dry.
Just in Vale dos Vinhedos there are 100 employees and 3 oenologists working with Michelle Roland as consultant
with an eager aim to produce even higher qualities. Producing 80% white wines, 20% red ones, having over 100
labels on the market and exporting to over 32 countries,(some of them: New Zealand, Great Britain, China,
Canada, Netherlands) clearly shows their influence in Brazilian wine trade. Working with 80% bought grapes and
20% own grapes and having 1 Mio l capacity for white wines, 3 Mio l capacity for red ones, 7 Mio l capacity for
stocks, indicates their enormous size and interference in viticulture, supporting small wine producers, who gain
from the technology and knowledge they are getting from Miolo Wine Group to which they are selling their
grapes. One of the wines produced in Campanha region, a cuvee of Tempranillo, Gamay and Touriga National
was one of the wines at the Olympic Games this year in London. This is one product among many, they can be
really proud of. Over 50 analyses are done before the perfect harvest date can be fixed and 20 woman are working
at the separating table to guarantee the high quality standard.
I won't go to much into detail with the wine technology but I have to mention that Miolo Wine Group has 40 %
of market share in Brazil in the category of fine wines. At the same time it is also South America's largest producer
of sparkling wines, producing demi-sec and brut sparkling with traditional method from the Chardonnay, Pinot
Noir and Moscatel grape variety.
But now let's do the tasting!
Cuvee Giuseppe Chardonnay 2011
Apricot, light ginger spice, noticeable toast combined with dried pineapple, a little caramel and vanilla. Together
with a light body, mineral tones as well, smooth in the palate but showing little tannins deriving from the wood,
the wine shows a long finish.
RAR Collezione Pinot Noir 2011
This wine shows light ruby colour with violet tones, a typical colour of a young Pinot Noir. High aromatic
intensity, with notes of fruit and wood (oak) of aging evolve beneath aromas of spices, cassis, vanilla and dried
fruit. Medium bodied wine has delicate and elegant tannins.
Quinta do Seival Castas Portuguesas 2008
This one shows a deep ruby colour. High intensity and aromatic complexity, appearing in the foreground of the
typical floral Touriga Nacional, well mixed with fruit compote, black plum and fig notes of toasted wood. This
wine is highly structured with good volume in the mouth and a refreshing acidity.
Miolo Merlot Terroir D.O. 2009
The colour is quite intense with a gentle purple tone. On the nose it is very fruity with a combination of toasted
coffee, fruit jam, blackcurrant and a little dried fruit as well. All in all this is a very harmonic wine, showing
elegancy and really surprising for a Merlot with its full bodied character, velvety tannins, medium alcohol and a
pleasant acidic structure, offering a pleasant aftertaste.
Miolo Millésime 2009
In appearance it has pale lemon colour with green reflection and fine, resistant bubbles. The aroma shows real
complexity and a pleasant range of fruit and some aging bouquets similar to Champagne. In taste this sparkling
wine shows nice acids combined with a fine body, leaving a pleasant taste in the mouth.
Terranova Moscatel
It shows a light greenish yellow colour. On the intense nose it is fresh, floral and shows typical Muscat character.
The taste is light and sweet, leaving a pleasant and fresh touch in the mouth.
21.08.2012 02.00 a.m. Casa Valduga
Casa Valduga was founded 1875 by Roverto, an Italian immigrant as well as all the others. Nowadays the company
has vineyards in Cruxilliado do Sul with about 120 ha, in Campanha Gaucha with 55 ha, 69 ha in Vale dos
Vinhedos and 2 more areas 300km in the south where an inclination of 45% inclination compared to Campanha
Gaucha that is rather flat, very windy with a semi desert environment, colder winters, and less rain causes the
differences and variable style of wines that are being produced. Campanha Gaucha is still their best Terroir
(300000 RS/ha) due to less humidity problems. 17 years ago there was a big investment to build the largest
sparkling wine cellar in South America but we have to consider that they are still not the biggest producers,
although focusing on expanding. Nowadays they buy 25% of the grapes offering technical support for wine
growers as well. An export to over 14 countries, among them Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Shanghaj, Hong Kong... is not
too bad I would say...
Grape varieties Casa Valduga is working with are for example Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and
Malbec, Chardonnay (DOC), Riesling Italico and Pinot Noir for the sparkling. It is just amazing to see that kind
of development in Brazil of producing real high quality. Even in the category of sparkling wines they either use
the traditional method as in Champagne with 30-60 days of remuge and one year for Basic Line on lies, two years
for the Reserve and their Grand reserve even stays 60 month on the lies. Another category not only people in
Brazil will appreciate is their Moscatel, produced from Prosecco grape in the Asti method. In Cruxiliado do Sul
the Malbec is used for rosé sparkling wine making. The use of the traditional method guaranties the smooth soft
and less bitter sensation. But we also have to consider the careful hand harvest, the low yield philosophy, they are
keeping to (40t/ha, 5-7t/ha, 3t/ha for premium wine), the destemming of the grapes, the use of a heat exchanger
for the sparkling and many more oenological aspects in the cellar that a simple consumer sometimes is maybe not
aware of.
All in all I would say, Casa Valduga is one of the smallest big players that is really worth to visit, as the wines are
amazing and the view of their 7 year old oeno-touristic building is an eye catcher as well...
Let's taste!
Casa Raizes Sauvignon Blanc 2012
This is a light white wine with vegetal tones, dominant acids and fruity aromas of lime that turns herbal with
aeration. Very mineral finish, good length, has a touch of white creamy fruit on the mid palate and salty mineral
notes then finishing with some fine grapefruit pith.
Identidade Gewurztraminer 2012
Bright colour, light aromas of litchi, lemon, very pretty, very elegant floral, lovely fresh high acids, zesty, with
this fine mineral cut running through the clear fruit, the finish is rather short with very fresh floral and grapefruit
aromas in the mouth, finessed expression of Gewürztraminer, remarkably attractive wine.
Gran Reserva Chardonnay 2011
This sparkling wine has golden colour with reflections of straw, a fine perlage and long mouth feel. It has a
complex and delicate bouquet, reminiscent of fine spices, almonds, dried flowers, buttery and ripeness. Explosive
acidity but balanced at the same time and exiting aftertaste. It spent 8 month in oak.
Arte Traditional Brut
ARTE is in this sparkling composition harmonic range of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir. It has a fine and
persistent perlage and an incomparable aroma of tropical fruit and toasted bread combined all together with a very
flowery, vital character and fresh aromas of yeast. It had 12 month of maturation period.
Ancelotta 2007
Ancelotta is an italian grape variety. The very deep colour of the wine goes into the bluish. Aromas of green
paprika, ripe fruit together with only little tannins, slightly high acidity end ina long and smooth mouthfeel.
23.08.2012 10.00 a.m. Lidio Carraro
1988 started the Italian guy Lidio Carraro, ancestor of Patricia Carraro, the girl that has received us. Point zero of
today's company that nowadays owns over 40 ha, 33ha of them in south east, was Bento Goncalves where we
have been. Lidio Carraro started a really nice success story... cannot be called tall nor small the first launch was
2004. Now already in the 5th generation they do not fix on buying grapes such as in former times but they do have
their own purist philosophy working with 100% of their own grapes. Their brand clearly symbolizes Brazil as
country, it is contemporary at the same time and the red colour was chosen on purpose for the hotness and passion.
The three elements as well state their purist concept of terroir: soil, grape and climate. "We do not agree with
international typicities. We have our own purist concept, trying to rescue the presence of terroir and purity of the
grapes," Patricia said. Working with Monica Rossetti, who is consultant in 7 projects, they have done much
research with different plots and separate vinifications to find out the best fitting grape variety for each plot and
each soil type. The main type of soil is the basaltic claim soil at the same time there is a huge diversity that should
be expressed and secured in their wines. Working not only with the grape varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet
Franc, Merlot and Tannat, Lidio Carraro made out of these one of the best first blends in Vale dos Vinhedos.
Their export market is in over 18 countries, very well choosing their importers as Particia said. "We want to
develop and grow together with our partners, step by step. If the importer does not succeed, he won't be the right
one and the work together will find and end in short time." This for sure makes it a challenge to take the risk of
waiting and searching always the best solutions, which means time and money. One single wine Lidio Carraro is
very proud of is their first top premium Merlot. This one was the first Brazilian wine that could be found the
international airports and even Steven Spurrier mentioned it with high praise. By doing 100% hand management
and working with 2-3 kg/plant and 1.2-1.5 kg/plant to produce their best of the best category, Patricia Carraro said
they stay strictly to their purist concept where sustainability is very important. Therefore they are 100% organic,
using no herbicides at all. They do not even need to irrigate. The TPC: Thermo Pass Control Lazo system, they
are pioneers in, make it possible to work without any agro toxicity as only hot air helps to stress the plants and
make them producing phyto alexins that protect the plants. The philosophy is to not use wood at all to keep the
typicity, the clearness and stay 100% pure which we now are going to taste in the wines:
DA'DIVAS Chardonnay 2011
It has a pale almost transparent colour and has orange blossom and citrus on the nose with minerality, lightness
and fresh vitalizing acidity. This is a well balanced wine with fine length and real elegancy.
DA'DIVAS Rosé 2011 (M., Temp., Touriga N., P.N.)
This one is a real serious clean, fresh, lighter bodied rosé in real Provence style, mineral, earthy and very taut
tones but at the same time very well balanced. It has a fairly long and a little plum skin and spiciness on the finish.
AGNUS Merlot 2010
This one is all about purity. Although the high acidity it is smooth and harmonious at the Same time. The
pepperiness combined with aromas of fruits such as black currant and black mulberry combined lead to a smooth
and elegant wine with mature tannins.
Elos Cuvee 2009 (Touriga N. 80%, Tannat 20%)
Its vibrant dark colour and such an intensive floral aroma of violet, thyme, little spiciness and chocolate create a
fantastic very complex wine that is very well balanced with integrated tannins.
Quorum Lidio Carraro Cuvee 2006 (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat, Cabernet Franc)
The aromatic complexity and finesse is amazing. Aromas with a fruity and floral touch, turning into coffee,
chocolate and spices appear. The ripe tannins and ripeness of the wine create a perfect wine for the Olympic
Games 2007.
22.08.201201.00 a.m. Pizzato
Surprise surprise...! Where did Flavio Pizzato's father and grandfather 1967 originate from? Italy! Correct! The
building we could see was from 1940 but it was bought by Pizzato in the 1980s.
The starting point, working in a co-operative with Salton and Aurora to whom they sold grapes was maybe a fault
and meant the loss of much money. After 1995 Pizzato resigned this co-operative. Nowadays they own 26ha in
Vale dos Vinhedos and 16 ha (Tannat, Merlot, Alicante, Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Gris,
Egiodola) and having different labels that are all put onto the bottles by manual work. Fausto andPizzato are some
of the existing brands. Unfortunately Flavio Pizzato was quite in a hurry, but it was amazing to see that even in
his hurry he took the time to show us the building that is still put money into for expanding. He left us with a very
nice girl who showed us some fantastic wines of his repertoire:
Chardonnay 2012
Nice pale lemon, with aromas of yellow stone fruits, tropical fruits as mango, dominant acidity some residual
sugar and medium alcohol. This is a well-balanced, elegant, refreshing and lingering wine.
Merlot Rosé 2011
Clear medium coloured rosé with hints of salmon, red fruits and fig on the nose and a lingering structure. High
acidity combined with aromas of toast and a real long finish creates a real vivacious young dry wine.
Fausto Merlot 2010
Intensive ruby colour with floral notes of geranium combined with liquorice, vanilla and black cherry marmalade.
It has a nice velvety structure with balanced alcohol and tannin structure and a long, smooth finish.
Fausto Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
This dark ruby Cabernet Sauvignon shows sharp vegetal tones of celery, pepper and red fruits. The high acidity
integrated in a medium bodied wine and a nice spiciness with well-rounded tannins makes this wine to a really
exiting one.
Reserva Merlot 2009
Ruby red with dense violet colour and aromas of black cherries create an overwhelming perfume of the wine with
fresh acidity and medium body produce all in all a mouth feel with fine tannins that is very elegant, simple and
straight.
Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
A very deep coloured wine with nice animality and chocolate on the nose, light straight body with vegetal tones,
menthol and tannins that are very well integrated. This is a very nicely balanced wine. It is just about the harmony.
Tannat 2007
The colour is deep ruby with bluish hints. On the nose it has smoky notes, bacon, jellies. The extreme high acidity
and those fine tannins are the basic for this powerful wine that has a high potential for aging.
Alicante Bouschet 2004
The colour is a quite dark ruby with bluish hints. On the nose it has some aging tones, ripe dark fruits, leather and
sour cherry. The high acidity and the well-structured lingering tannins in the aftertaste create a quite powerful
wine.
Brut white
In appearance it is pale lemon, with fine perlage. On the nose it has white flowers, citric fruits and a refreshing
saltyness. In taste it has some steelyness white peach with balanced acidity and alcohol. All in all this is a well
bodied dry sparkling, very refreshing and pleasant creaminess.
23.08.2012 05.00 p.m. Ristorante Aprazivel
Some political issues
After Alain Ingles had heard about me visiting these wineries in Brazil, he invited me to the Ristorante Aprazivel,
a nice idyllic little restaurant that started with all those excellent dishes Pedro Hermeto's mom always cooked in
former times for his friends and family... It was so good that it attracted more and more people and today it is one
of Rio de Janeiro's top restaurants with high quality food and wine.
About their philosophy: Everything is done with love to nature, the food as well as the wines on the list.
The actual aim why they invited me was to show me some wines of all those little producers, who make wine as
a passion for nature and wine in a very little volume. They talked a little of what they fear could happen in future: Fernando Collor de Mello opened the import 1974
and the increasing vineyards at that time enjoyed protectionism what also meant mechanisation was made possible
and the prices of the bought grapes went down. Many of those small producers that produced grapes only for
selling them to the big players had to close as they do not get any funds for transportation, taxes and the much
higher quality small producers have to invest more.
Since more than one year the so called Fiscal stamp has to go onto bottles, right after bottling. Also keeping in
mind that the tax legislation is much more favourable for import wines than for Brazilian wines the fiscal stamp
is another sink of money also for small producers that have to pay.
As many of them are not even aware of all regulations or they did not have the money to pay taxes, because they
had to be paid in advance, independently from the fact the bottle is going to be sold or not, more than 200 little
wine producers had to close.
Nevertheless the fiscal stamp's objective is the avoidance of smuggling and the kicking some weak competitors
out of the market. Considering this, in my opinion competition is healthy and secures a balance...
All in all, the wines that I got the chance to taste were from some of these small producers that fear their existence
due to the political situation in Brazil...
But to help these little producers Paul Medder, Sommelier of Ristorante Aprazivel, has changed the whole wine
list, offering exceptionally best quality wines from small producers, to show that even these not very well known
wines are able to compete on the market and on the globe if we considered only the quality...
About the wines I have tasted:
Cave Geisse Nature 2010
Fine perlage, yellow fruit, dominant yeasty tones, like a real champagne.
Vallontano Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Very fruity, integrated acids, black sour cherry
Alain and his crew could really convince me...
Wow it would be really a pity if all those little producers would disappear....
And to tell a little secret: Luiza Zanini and Pedro Hermeto are working on a little project together that has the
respect of the plant in focus. Working with 85 year old plants of "Beverella" grape variety, which is almost at the
edge of extinction, they want to produce a wine which shall be called ERA DOS VENTOS: "Age of the winds".
I am looking forward tasting it the next time I will be there...
And if you are going to Brazil to learn about wine...just keep in mind to be open for everyone small or tall, it does
not matter, the high quality standard is guaranteed.
Go and convince yourself, for sure you will enjoy it!
2009 Nach der Landwirtschaftslehre absolvierte ich ein dreimonatiges Praktikum auf dem Betrieb Chiavassa in Argentinien, was für mich sehr interessant und aufschlussreich war, da ich viele neue Eindrücke gewinnen konnte.