Serra Gaúcha is one of the most famous wine regions of Brazil, in the heartland of Rio Grande do Sul and home to the famed Vale dos Vinhedos. The wine region really is the heartland of fine wine in Brazil, with some of the most-prized appellations and best-known wineries as well as the greatest concentration of Brazilian wine production.
The ultimate guide to the Serra Gaucha wine region in Brazil
Terroir facts
Vale dos Vinhedos
Pinto Bandeira
Other sub-regions
Recommended wines for Serra Gaúcha
Serra Gaúcha is home to Brazil’s best-known wineries and is the most-visited wine region in the country. It is through a combination of terroir conditions and the important amount of Italian immigration in the region that has made it the bonafide heartland of Brazilian wine.
Most of Serra Gaúcha’s vineyards benefit from a hilly topography, which naturally allows the heavy rainfall – which can be quite typical in summer – to run off without waterlogging the vineyards. The conditions are quite similar in most sub-regions, with the soils generally being of mixed clay and basalt.
There are many different grape varieties planted in Serra Gaúcha but some of the highlights include Chardonnay, Merlot, and Moscato, as well as the excellent sparkling wines of both traditional and charmat method. Many of the wine styles of the region are influenced by the Italian and Portuguese heritages of the wine families that have settled there.
