Brazil Flashcards
What are the 2 DOs in Brazil, and which was first
Vale dos Vinhedos DO (first in 2012)
Altos de Pinto Bandeira DO
Which Brazilian state does the majority of wine production come from
Rio Grande do Sul (Specifically Serra Gaucha, producing about 90% of Brazil’s wine)
T/F - The majority of grape plantings in Brazil are Vitis Vinifera
False - about 90% Lambrusca/Hybrid varieties
What is the cepage for Altos de Pinto Bandeira DO
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with max 25% Riesling Italico
What is the minimum time on lees necessary for Altos de Pinto Bandeira DO
12 months
What styles may be produced under Vale dos Vinhedos DO
Espumante Fino, Branco, Tinto
What is the predominant grape in Vale dos Vinhedos DO Tinto
Merlot
Which Champagne House branched into Brazil in the 1970s
Moet & Chandon
What is the northernmost IP in Brazil
Vale do Sao Francisco IP
What is the leading style of wine produced in Brazil?
Red
What is the most common form of trellising…and why…in Brazil?
Tendone – b/c of rot …. And Espalier
What was the first DO of Brazil?
Vale dos Vinhedos DO – Serra Gaucha
What is the southern-most wine growing region (that borders Uruguay)?
Campanha
What is the northernmost wine growing region of Brazil?
Vale do Sao Francisco
What is the latitude of Vale do Sao Francisco
10° S
What state in Brazil is responsible for 85% of the country’s wine production?
Rio de Janeiro
São Paulo
Santa Catarina do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul $
What is the difference between an IP and a DO in Brazil?
IP is Indication of Origin, denoting a renowned region whereas DO is Denomination of Origin that is a more specific designation denoting wines of quality due to human and environ
What is the most planted grape in Brazil?
Just three varieties, Isabel (or Isabella), Niagara, and Bordô comprise a full three-quarters of Brazil’s vineyard area. Isabel, though, is the country’s most-planted variety. The majority of these grapes make juice or other grape-based products, but they also make the bulk of wine coming out of Brazil, most of which is table wine.
T/F the majority of Brazil’s winemaking is reliant on vineyards with coastal aspects.
False, Brazil’s winemaking regions are all inland.
Which region in Brazil has two harvest per year?
Sao Francisco
Name the style of wines produced in Serra Gaucha/ Vale dos Vinhedos
Merlot, Chard, Traditional Methode Sparkling
Who is the leading winery in Brazil?
Vinícola Miolo
Most-planted varietal in Brazil?
Isabel
Where does Moet & Chandon make sparkling wine in Brazil?
Serra Gaucha
What sweetness levels are permitted for Brazilian Traditional Method sparkling?
a. Nature (no dosage)
b. Extra-Brut (under 5 g/L)
c. Brut (under 15 g/L)
What other names does Cachaça go by?
Pinga
Caninha
How is Cachaça classified?
a. It’s classified by the way it is stored before being bottled
b. Branca/White - Cachaça that is not stored in wood after distillation, or just stands in stainless steel containers before bottling. Same goes for cachaça that rests in woods that do not release any color (such as peanut, jequitibá, and freijó). White cachaça is also sometimes called clássica (classic), tradicional (traditional) or prata (silver).
c. Amarela or yellow cachaça is stored or aged in wood, which causes a substantial change in its color. Producers may call these ouro (gold) or envelhecida (aged). It’s also worthwhile to note the difference between stored and aged cachaça. Stored cachaça is kept in wooden barrels of any size for a non-specified period of time. Meanwhile, aged cachaça must contain over 50 percent of a spirit that is at least one year old and rested in barrels of up to 700 liters.
d. Aged cachaça is then divided into “Premium” (aged for a period not shorter than one year) and “Extra Premium” (for a period not shorter than three years). In both case, 100 percent of the cachaça needs to be aged in suitable barrels.
What was the first sub-region to be awarded Brazil’s ‘Indication of Origin’ designation?
a. Vale dos Vinhedos (“vineyard valley”)
b. Sub-region within Serra Gaúcha region
Why do hybrid grapes dominate Brazil’s vineyards?
a. It’s hot, humid climate encourages fungal rot and disease
b. Hybrids are more resistant
What are Brazilian Champenoise requirements?
a. Base wines have to be at least 60% Chardonnay and/or Pinot noir. Riesling Itálico is authorized as complementary variety.
b. Traditional Method (second fermentation in bottle).
c. The process of “prise de mousse” should last at least 9 months
d. On the label it must have the classification of nature (no sugar), extra-brut (until 5g/l sugar) and brut (until 15g/l sugar).
e. No Chapitalization
Where does Moet & Chandon make sparkling wine in Brazil?
Serra Gaucha
If Brazilian sparklings are so good, then why don’t we see them in many export markets?
a. EU trade laws prohibit hybrid varieties
Who is the leading winery in Brazil?
Vinícola Miolo
What are Brazil’s six wine regions?
a. Serra Catarinense
b. Serra Gaúcha – Vale dos Vinhedos (Sparkling, Moet & Chandon Brazil)
c. Vale dos Vinhedos
d. Altos Montes
e. Farroupilha
f. Monte Belo
g. Pinto Bandeira
Name the style of wines produced in Serra Gaucha/ Vale dos Vinhedos
a. STYLES OF WINE – SERRA GAUCHA/VALE DOS VINHEDOS
b. Merlot 85% min / 60% min for blend
c. Chardonnay 85% min / 60% min for blend
d. Sparkling- Chardonnay and /or Pinot Noir 60% minimum. Riesling Italico as complimentary.
T/F the majority of Brazil’s winemaking is reliant on vineyards with coastal aspects.
False, Brazil’s winemaking regions are all inland.
T/F Brazil’s total plantings consist of 90% Lambrusca and hybrid varieties. The remaining 10% is Vitis vinifera.
True
What is the most planted vitis vinifera varietal in Brazil?
Cabernet Sauvignon at +1028 ha of the country’s +78,000 ha
Can you recommend a Brazilian Cabernet Sauvignon of repute?
Vinicola Hiragami
Miolo
Casa Valduga
Casa Verrone
Casa Geraldo
Guaspari
What is the most planted white vitis vinifera?
Chardonnay, 1,011 ha- tank fermented, oak aged @ 13.5abv typical
What was the first IP in Brazil?
Vale dos Vinhedos in Serra Gaucha, 2002
What was the first DO in Brazil?
Vale dos Vinhedos in Serra Gaucha was promoted to DO in 2012.
What are the permitted grapes for Valle do Vinhedos DO Espumante?
Must be Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with Riesling Italico also permitted
Name a Brazilian beer brand?
Brahma, Antartica, Skol. Or the craft drinkers, Eisenbahn is the only beer mentioned in the Michael Jackson beer book
How many vintages may you produce in Vale do Sao Francisco IG from one calendar year?
One. Although you may harvest twice (or even three times) at this latitude during a span from January through December, a vintage is defined as January through December with multiple harvests permitted for blending together.
What are winemaking challenges in Rio Grande do Sul?
Frost is a threat that ruins many vintages. Rainfall during harvest is also a concern. Humidity can cause disease. Achieving ripeness can be a challenge with most red wine hovering around 13% ABV and whites around 12.5%. Elevation is a huge factor here.
Pinto Bandeira produces reputable wines of which style?
Sparkling
Vinhos de Altura (High Altitude Wines) and the São Joaquim Plateau are associated with which Brazilian wine
Vinhos Altude de Santa Caterina IP
Valle dos Vinhedos DO and Pinto Bandeira IP are located within which region that is referred to as the “Napa Valley of Brazil”?
Serra Gaúcha region within the state of Rio Grande do Sul
What is unique about Brazil’s new Origin Indications system?
Both yields and grape varieties are restricted (in the manner of European appellation systems).
What are the subregions of Rio Grande Sul?
Serra Gaucha
Vale do Vinhedos
What is the South America’s first DO?
Vale do Vinhedos
What are the authorized varieties for Vale do Vinhedos?
Merlot and Chardonnay
Top 3 wine companies of Brazil
Miolo
Salton
Aurora
Year Portuguese brought the vine to Brazil
1532
Claudio Gay
Claudio Gay
A Frenchman, in 1830, who set up a Chilean repository of pre-phylloxera Vitis vinifera vines at the University of Chile’s Quinta Normal department
Earliest grape to arrive in the Americas
Black Mission Grape
Chilean synonym fo the Mission grape
Pais
Brazil’s
Main production
Red wine
- Although, nearly 1/4 of the country’s output is sparkling
Brazil
Sparkling wine
% of production
nearly 25%
- Production is predominantly red wine
Foreign company who has invested in Brazil
Champagne Möet et Chandon
Brazil
Southern state where most viticultural activity takes place
Rio Grande do Sul
- On the Argentinean border
Brazil’s most developed viticultural region
- State is it located in
- Region accounts for what % of Brazil’s wine
Serra Gaúcha
- Within the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul
- Accounts for appx 90% of Brazilian wine
Region that produces 90% of Brazil’s wine
Serra Gaúcha
- Within the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul
Beside Serra Gaúcha, 3 other wine regions of southern Brazil
- São Joaquim (N of Serra Gaúcha)
- Serra do Sudeste (S of Serra Gaúcha)
- Campanha (SW of Serra Gaúcha)
Tropical winegrowing region in the northern part of Brazil, where growers are able to harvest twice a year
São Francisco Valley
What is unique about Brazil’s new system of Origin Indications?
Both yields and grape varieties are restricted in the manner of European appellations
Brazil’s 1st Origin Indication in 2002
Subregion within Serra Gaúcha
Vale dos Vinhedos
Brazil 1st Origin Indication
Year it was recognized
Vale dos Vinhedos
- est 2002
- w/in Serra Gaúcha of Rio Grande do Sul
Brazil
Most planted grapes
- Bordeaux and other international grapes
- w/ Iberian varietals like Aragonez and Touriga Nacional
What is Brazil’s annual output? Where does that place them in overall production?
84.5 million gallons annually; fifth largest producer in the Southern Hemisphere (after Argentina, Australia, South Africa, and Chile)
What are the most common varieties for Brazilian table wine? Table wine accounts for what quantity of plantings and production?
Labrusca varieties, specifically Isabella, Bordo, and Niagara
75% of all plantings, and 66% of production
Where is most Brazilian fine wine produced, and from what grape species?
Serra Gaúcha
Vinifera
Name three major firms in Brazil, and four mid-size houses.
Miolo, Salton, Aurora (co-op)
Chandon Brazil, Garibaldi (co-op), Perini, Casa Valduga
Where did Brazil’s wine tradition originate?
In the 1870’s in Serra Gaúcha, thanks to a large immigrant population from Trentino and the Veneto.
What is IBRAVIN?
The Brazilian Wine Institute, founded 1998.
What is an adega?
A winery
Who is the father of Brazil’s boutique wine movement?
Antonio dal Pizzol (Dal Pizzol winery)
Who pioneered quality sparkling wine in Brazil?
Mario Geisse
What is the northernmost winegrowing region in Brazil, and where is it? What is the focus of production?
Vale do São Francisco, in Pernambuco and Bahia at 8-9º S, 400M elevation.
Mostly labrusca varieties
How many harvests a year in the Vale do Saõ Francisco?
Generally two, sometimes three; can operate on a 120-130 day viticultural cycle.
In which Southern Brazilian states is viticulture concentrated?
Paraná
Santa Catarina
Rio Grande do Sul
Paraná: subregions and major grapes
Colombo, São José dos Pinhais, Campo Largo
Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay
Santa Catarina: subregions, climate, major grapes
Vale do Rio do Peixe (high elevation), Pedras Grandes, Morro da Fumaça, Vale do Rio Tijucas, São Joaquim/Planalto Catarinese (uniquely 100% vinifera)
20% Vinifera; remainder is labrusca or hybrid
Either very good or very bad; sometimes early winters, often major frost problems.
Which state produces 90% of Brazil’s wine, and what is its most important region? How does production break down?
Rio Grande do Sul
Serra Gaúcha
80% labrusca & hybrids, 20% vinifera
Where is the Vale do Viñedos? What is the climate and elevation?
The heart of Serra Gaúcha, centered around the town of Bento Gonçalves.
Realtively cool, very humid/wet (67 inches/year), 600-800M in elevation.
Basalt-derived soils.
What is Brazil’s sole DO? What are the requirements?
Vale do Viñedos
All grapes for appellated wines must come from teh appellation. The only varietal wines permitted are Merlot and Chardonnay, and their blending partners are mandated. Sparkling wines must be methode traditionelle.
Also regulated are minimum alcohols, permitted grape varieties overall, aging requirements for barrel and bottle, and production techniques (no oak chips, for one).
Where is Campanha Gaúcha, and what are its subzones?
In Rio Grande do Sul, on the Uruguayan border
(west to east)
Uruguaiana and Itaqui
Sant’Ana do Livramento and Rosário do Sul
Dom Pedrito, Candiota, and Bagé
