Brazil and Mexico Flashcards
Brazil’s production is predominantly?
Red, although nearly a quarter of the country’s output is sparkling, and the country has attracted significant foreign investment, including the Champagne firm Moët et Chandon
Most of the Brazil’s viticultural activity takes place in the southern state of?
Rio Grande do Sul, on the Argentinean border. Within Rio Grande do Sul, Serra Gaúcha is the country’s most developed viticultural region and accounts for approximately 90% of Brazilian wine
Name the subregion within Serra Gaúcha
Vale dos Vinhedos
Does Brazil have an apellation of origin system?
A new system of Origin Indications in Brazil is unique among New World countries; both yields and grape varieties are restricted in the manner of European appellations
Vale dos Vinhedos DO, a subregion within Serra Gaúcha, received Brazil’s first Origin Indication in 2002
In Brazil, there are two types of GIs:
Indication of Origin (IP) = Regions that have become renowned in wine production
Denomination of Origin (DO) = Wines have qualities or characteristics that are essentially due to the geographical environment, including natural and human factors.
Brazil is mainly planted with?
90% Lambrusca and hybrid varieties. The remaining 10% is Vitis vinifera
Name the 2 DOs of Brazil:
Altos de Pinto Bandeira DO
Vale dos Vinhedos DO
both in Rio Grande Do Sul
Other southern regions of Brazil include?
São Joaquim, Serra do Sudeste, and Campanha
São Francisco Valley is located?
in the northern part of Brazil
Vale dos Vinhedos DO styles and grapes?
Espumante Fino
Branco
Tinto
Grape Requirements
Espumante Fino: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Branco: Min 60% Chardonnay w/ Riesling Italico
Tinto: Min 60% Merlot w/ Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Tannat grapes
Grape varieties of Brazil in general?
Bordeaux and other international grapes are planted in Brazil, alongside Iberian varieties like Aragonez and Touriga Nacional
Mexico’s winemaking history began with the arrival of the?
Spanish to the Americas in the 16th century
Who defeated the Aztec Empire?
In 1521, Hernán Cortés defeated the Aztec Empire, claiming it for Spain
One of his early orders from the King of Spain was to plant 1,000 vines for each native slave in the new territory. This was when Vitis vinifera, brought over from Europe, was introduced
Which grape was cultivated in Mexico first for sacramental use?
Listán Prieto grape, also known as Mission
When was the Mexican Independence?
1821
Which region of Mexico accounts for most of the plantings and production?
Producing 85% of Mexico’s wine across 3,360 planted hectares, maritime-influenced Baja California is the most important winemaking state, with a Mediterranean climate well suited to viticulture
Its Guadalupe Valley is home to over 140 wineries, including L.A. Cetto, the largest winery in Mexico
Describe the terroir of Guadelupe Valley
Situated 400 meters above sea level and 25 kilometers from the Pacific Ocean, the area has a strong oceanic influence. The soils on the valley floor are sandy, and the soils on the hillsides are a blend of granite and poor clay
Which is the highest and coolest winegrowing region of Mexico?
Moving south, the Ojos Negros Valley is the highest altitude and coolest valley in the region at 800 meters above sea level. There is occasional snow here, and it can be warmer than surrounding areas in the summer. The soil is a blend of sand and clay
Further south and 45 kilometers from the city of Ensenada is the?
Santo Tomás Valley which has clay and volcanic soils
The southernmost valley in Baja California is?
San Vicente, only 11 kilometers from the Pacific
Name the winegrowing regions of Baja California Mexico
Guadelupe Valley
Ojos Negros Valley
Santo Tomas Valley
San Vicente
Name the other key regions of Mexico beyond Baja California
Coahuila and Querétaro
Coahuila, east of Baja and bordering Texas, produces wine in
Arteaga, Saltillo, and Parras de la Fuente. The last of these is most important, a valley oasis in the middle of the desert at 1,500 meters above sea level. It has clay soils and a warm desert climate with cool winters and warm summers. Located here is Casa Madero, the oldest winery in the Americas, founded in 1597
. Querétaro is in the ?
Very center of Mexico, between 700 and 3,300 meters above sea level. It has a semi-arid climate and chalky and sandy soils. Ezequiel Montes, San Juan del Río, and Tequisquiapan are important growing areas
The other wine-producing states of Mexico, from north to south, are?
Sonora, Durango, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, and Guanajuato. With the exception of Guanajuato, these states have a semi-arid climate and are dominated by sand and clay soils. Sonora is home to the regions of Bahía Kino, Caborca, and Hermosillo. Durango is divided by the Sierra Madre range, creating microclimates; its most important region is Gómez Palacio
Which state of Mexico grows grapes in its most southern reaches?
Zacatecas grows grapes in its most southern reaches, where elevation ranges from 400 to 2,000 meters above sea level and temperatures are consistent year round
Aguascalientes as well
Name the most popular grapes of Mexico
There are no vinifera varieties indigenous to the Americas, so Mexican wine is made from the ‘international’ varieties of French, Spanish and Italian descent. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are grown here, as is Zinfandel, the icon grape of the USA. They are complemented by white wines made predominantly from Colombard, Chenin Blanc, Semillon and the ubiquitous Chardonnay
Name the major producers of Mexico
Casa Madero (the oldest since 1597 in Coahuila, mainly reds from Cab Sauv, Shiraz and Merlot and some whites from Chardonnay)
L.A. Cetto (one of the largest and makes mainly reds Durif, Cab Sauv, Zinfandel and some Chardonnay), Baja California
Bodegas Santo Tomas
Monte Xanic (Valle de Guadelupe) for the reds
Name the top wineries of Brazil
Miolo Wine Group in Valle dos Vinhedos, Serra Guacha, Rio Grande Do Sul (largest producer all wines sparkling, white, rose and reds)
Casa Valduga in Valle de Vinhedos for reds and sparkling
Salton in Serra Gaucha one of the oldest mainly sparkling and entry lvl reds
