Uruguay And Brazil Flashcards
Uruguay
Basque settlers bought vines, in particular Tannat to Uruguay in the 1870’s.
Temperate, maritime climate, similar to Bordeaux. Rain year round makes mildew and black spot a problem; vines trained on lyre system to minimise this. Most vineyards are situated near Montevideo on rolling hills with a range of soil types.
Recent emphasis on export has led to an improvement in equipment and techniques.
Tannat is produced in a range of styles, but fruity dry red is the main one exported. Often blended with Merlot to soften the powerful tannins.
Brazil
Most of Brazil is too hot and lacks defied seasons for the growth cycle of the vine.
80% of the grapes grown are American varieties or hybrids.
The vineyards of Serra Gaucho benefit from high altitude and southerly location. Damp conditions make rot and mildew a problem. Most of the production is sweet and sparkling, following the Asti method; Serra Gaucho accounts for 80% of the Brazilian wine production.
Grapes also planted along the border with Uruguay and in the tropical north of Rio Sao Francisco.
Brazil: History
1532: Portuguese vines introduced in Sao Paulo state.
1626: Spanish vines introduced by the Jesuits but later abandoned.
18th: 3rd try by Azores settlers to establish vinifera vine cuttings but climate too hot & humid
1840: first planting of the Isabella American vine on the South Coast or Rio Grande
Early 20th: devt of the industry with communication networks btw Rio and southern wine regions + first cooperatives
1970s: first quality wines driven by international companies and more modern wine making
Brazil: Key Regions and Characteristics
Concentrated in the extreme south in the state of Rio Grande do Sul
Main sub regions:
- Serra Gaúcha - 38,000ha of vines:
- Southerly location, north of Porto Alegre
- Hi altitude (average 700m)
- Shallow acid soils, not fertile with hi water retention clay
- Hi rainfall (700mm during growing season & 1,800mm/year)
- V. small vineyards (average 2.5ha)
- Trial to minimise yields on Vinifera varieties
- Whites: grapes often picked before full ripeness -> hi malic acid in S.G’s whites. MLF or not. -Reds: light and acid wines with some experimentation in new oak.
- Sparkling: Asti method. - Campanha (or Fronteira) on the border with Uruguay and Argentina.
- Less humid with lower rainfall (850mm/year)
- Flatter topography with sandy soils and good drainage
- All Vinifera varieties
- Espalier system
- Rolland consults for Miolo there - Sao Francisco Valley (500ha of Vinifera)
- In arid north part of the country, only 9 degrees below equateur
- Tropival viticulture with: >1 harvest/yr + Pergola system
- Modern reds emerging
Brazil: Grape Varieties
- 80% of grapes grown are American varieties or hybrids.
Isabella: Vitis Labrusca American hybrid; named after Isabella Gibbs who developed it in early 19th; can survive tropical conditions; most common variety in Brazil; develops foxy (≠fruity) wines esp. reds; used for sparkling wines, basic quality wines or table grapes - 20% (~5,000ha) vinifera varieties. Chardonnay, Sémillon, Gewürztraminer & Welschriesling in the high altitude Serra Gaucha
Brazil: Trade
- # 3 biggest wine producer in South America with 60,000ha/330m btls/year. #17 wine producer in the world.
- Low Brazil wine consumption internally: 2l/pers/yr
- Key producers:
Vinicola Aurora Cooperative: - Largest winery in Brazil w 2,650ha for 42m litres; more than 1,000 families are members
- Most international varieties represented; also produces grape juice
Miolo Group
- Established in ’08; present in all wine regions w 1,200ha for 12m litres
- Internationally-oriented; Michel Rolland consultant there
Uruguay: History
- 1870s: vineyards planted by Basque and Italian settlers.
- Tradition of ‘peasant’ smallholdings (~5ha average vineyard size) that continues today.
- Wine initially produced for local consumption.
Uruguay: Key Regions
80% of vineyards in Montevideo neighbouring departmentos.
Other regions:
- Cerro Chapeu – Brazilian border
- El Carmen – centre
- Carpinteria – centre
Uruguay: Climate and Weather
Only South American wine producing country influenced by the Atlantic Ocean
Temperate, maritime climate [rainfall & heat summation similar to Bordeaux]
Rain year round -> mildew & black spot risks -> Lyre system to prevent this
Uruguay: Soils and Typography
Mostly on rolling hills around Montevideo with deep clay soils.
The 3 C’s: Cerro Chapeu, El Carmen & Carpinteria -> poorer soil (interesting)
Uruguay: Red Grapes
Tannat (‘Harriague’)
- brought by Basque settlers in the 19th - 36% of all plantings
- Tough, deep black berries.
Merlot
- 10% of all plantings
- Often used to blend with Tannat to soften tannins
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Franc
Uruguay: White Grapes
Chardonnay
Sauvignon blanc
Muscat Hamburg
- lowest quality wine producing Muscat
- crossing btw M. of Alexandria + Trollinger
- black berried table grape
- used for Rosé in Uruguay
Uruguay: Viticulture and Winemaking
Vinifera varieties (≠ American or hybrids)
Lyre system
Hi yield issue but rise in more quality products in the recent years.
Uruguay: Wine Styles
Tannat -> dry fruity reds to be drunk young with riper and softer taste vs. Madiran for export
Uruguay: Production
3,500 growers
4th largest South American wine-producing
8,500ha of vines for 850,000hl of wine/year (based on 2005 harvest). • Key producers: Bouza, Pisano, Castillo Viejo, De Lucca.