Located in the northeast of Rio Grande do Sul, Vale dos Vinhedos is one of the most famous and authoritative Brazilian wine regions. The region offers tourists various opportunities to discover the wine and food riches of the territory. A territory that also owes the development of the wine culture to European immigrants.
In this interview with Bárbara Salvatti, Marketing and Communication Manager at Vale dos Vinhedos, tcompared to the previous one, we discover new aspects of this generous territory.
The first Italian immigrants who arrived in the Valley at the end of the 19th century contributed to the development of the wine culture of the Region. Today, what remains of the Italian influence?
© Naiára Martini- Vale dos Vinhedos
Everything. This influence, more than in habits and customs, is in the people. Here, everyone is very proud of their Italian ancestry. This is reflected in everything from faith to gastronomy, including the way of being and speaking. Many residents here and throughout the Serra Gaúcha region, also colonized by European immigrants, speak ‘Talian’, a language that emerged from the mixture of Portuguese and Italian dialects. It was families who came from Italy who “founded” the Vale dos Vinhedos. The adversities in an unknown land were overcome with faith, work and community. Families shared their difficulties and also their belongings, helping each other. This union is also the hallmark of the emergence of Approval, the Association of Fine Wine Producers of Vale dos Vinhedos, in 1995, formed by family-owned establishments of Italian origin that were created from the winemaking legacy left by immigrants in the region. Thus, this influence not only persists, but is celebrated every day, with the aim of preserving and perpetuating it.
The Italian influence is clearly visible in the wine production of Serra Gaúcha. The artisanal and family model, so common in small wineries in Italy, was adopted by immigrants and remains present to this day in some family properties. For Italians, wine has always been a fundamental part of social and family life, and this tradition remains alive in our families. An example of this are the Harvest festivals, which celebrate the grape harvest, preserving and strengthening this culture. Furthermore, not only the wine tradition, but also some typical Italian grape varieties, such as Malvasia, Moscato, Ancellotta and Teroldego, have adapted well to the climate of Serra Gaúcha, which has contributed to the quality and diversity of the region’s wines.
© Naiára Martini- Vale dos Vinhedos
How would you briefly present the Vale dos Vinhedos to foreign tourists?
With slopes covered in vines, Vale dos Vinhedos is one of the main grape and wine producing regions in Brazil, and is the only one recognized with a Designation of Origin for wines and sparkling wines in the country. Its origins are linked to the presence of Italian immigrants, who colonized the region from 1875 onwards and bequeathed the winemaking trade. Located in the northeast of Rio Grande do Sul, the region is home to more than 30 family wineries, from small boutiques to large groups, making it the largest concentration of these establishments per km² in Latin America. Vale dos Vinhedos is also the main wine tourism destination in Brazil, with over 100 wineries, restaurants, hotels, wineries, cafés, museums, and more.
© Naiára Martini- Vale dos Vinhedos
Is there anything new to tell about the wine production in the area in the last two years?
Vale dos Vinhedos has been working more specifically to promote and value the Designation of Origin in recent years. We are demonstrating our pioneering role in obtaining the Geographical Indication – we were the first to achieve this distinction in any segment in the country – and we confirmed this with the launch, in the second half of last year, of the first collective wine with D.O. on the Brazilian market. 10 Lotes D.O.V.V. is a Merlot obtained from a fraction of wines from 10 wineries in Vale dos Vinhedos. In addition to being an iconic product, it is a wine to celebrate the union and the associative work between wineries. Another pioneering action was the participation in the project to tokenize wines with DO. A partnership between Aprovale, Sebrae and iCoLab, the initiative allows the first wines with DO on the national market to be traced using a blockchain platform, from their origin to the end consumer. Aprovale also modernized the Geographical Indication management system. Now, the documentary process that integrates the method of granting IP and DO is being done electronically, through an application developed collaboratively between the regions holding Geographical Indication for wines and sparkling wines in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, with support from Sebrae-RS.
©Gilmar Gomes-Vale dos Vinhedos
The producers of Vale dos Vinhedos are currently bidding farewell to the 2025 grape harvest in high spirits: the harvest ended with good productivity figures and high quality levels presented by the grapes, including the emblematic varieties of the Designation of Origin, Chardonnay and Merlot. The results follow a trend that has been taking shape since 2018, with a sequence of excellent harvests in terms of quality. In this sense, grapes such as Chardonnay and Merlot reveal the uniqueness for which the Valley’s terroir is admired, generating even more expectation for the D.O.V.V. labels that are to come. The Chardonnay was an absolute highlight, delivering grapes of excellent ripeness, with vibrant acidity and a striking fruity character, full of notes of citrus and tropical fruits”, analyzes Moisés Brandelli, technical director of Aprovale, who also praises the Merlot among the reds. “The Merlot was simply impressive. The ripeness reached a rare level, resulting in silky tannins, an intense and deep color, and a wealth of aromas that range from ripe black fruits to floral and spicy nuances (which brings together the spice group)”.
In short, the 2025 harvest in Vale dos Vinhedos is full of promises of versatile and high-quality wines for all tastes.
©Naiára Martini- Vale dos Vinhedos
Characteristics that distinguish your wines?
Vale dos Vinhedos has a unique terroir. The composition of the soil, climate and topography, in addition to the local culture, provide producers with the conditions to obtain a high standard of quality in their grapes, providing raw material for winemakers to refine unique wines. One of the region’s unique features is its ability to preserve the natural acidity of the grapes, which is essential for the vivacity of sparkling wines and the elegance of still wines. The first region in the country to be officially recognized as a Geographical Indication, in 2002, the Vale was essential for the development of national winemaking, valuing history, culture and terroir, seeking qualification and constantly investing in technology, always attentive to market developments. The Vale dos Vinhedos has a diverse production, with emphasis on wines made with Merlot and Chardonnay grapes, the main varieties of the Vale dos Vinhedos Designation of Origin, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Tannat, Pinot Noir and Riesling Itálico. The wide variety of wineries located in the region also provides a variety of wine projects and productions, which makes Vale dos Vinhedos diverse in its product offering.
