Brazil ( Wines )

Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fifth largest in the world. It has a sizable wine industry but is probably best known in global markets for spirits, and in particular Cachaça.

With roughly 83,000 hectares (205,000 acres) of vineyard, it ranks just behind its near-neighbours Argentina and Chile in terms of acreage under vine. Only a small proportion (about 10 percent) of these acres are planted with Vitis vinifera vines, however this large acreage does not translate into large volumes of quality wine.

There are concerted efforts underway to improve this ratio. Although not yet recognized on an international scale, the quality of Brazilian wines is increasing year on year.

Brazil's best-known wines are arguably its sparkling whites. There are some Champagne method wines made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Many are made in a style like Italian spumante.

Despite spanning a full 39 degrees of latitude (5°N to 34°S), this vast nation lies largely outside the 'wine belt' (the band of latitudes in which effective viniculture is traditionally thought possible). The southern hemisphere wine belt encircles the globe between 30°S and 45°S, leaving very little room for Brazil to develop its vineyard area.

Thus, the vast majority of Brazilian wine comes from Brazil's southernmost regions, Campanha and particularly Serra Gaucha. The latter is home to Brazil's sparkling wine capital, Bento Gonçalves.

Far to the north, the state of Bahia is home to the flat, arid Vale do São Francisco. This is a developing wine region just 1050km/650 miles south of the equator. It performs at a higher level than is suggested by its 9°S latitude.

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