Brazil is filled with great bubbles and also some top Brazilian wines. Here is a collection of some favourites we tried while we were in Brazil recently, and to give you an idea of what you should be trying from the region. Most of them are exported, although we always recommend a trip to Brazil to ‘taste from the terroir’!
Wines for the weekend…
Terroir Nature (Cave Geisse)
Coming from one of the real maestros of sparkling wine in Brazil, Mario Geisse, this is one of his top sparkling wines from the Geisse vineyard in Pinto Bandeira. A traditional method, 50/50 Chardonnay-Pinot Noir blend that spends 42 months on the lees resulting in an incredibly complex and intense sparkling wine. This bottles deserves time, good food and good company to enjoy.
Nature (Don Giovanni)
This biodynamic family winery is on the hills of one of Brazil’s best known sparkling wine regions, Pinto Bandeira. All of their bubblies are traditional method, and this is in the middle range of their wines – delivering excellent value. A Chardonnay-dominant blend with Pinot Noir and 24 months aging, result in a bright and tropical wine with complex toasted notes.
RSV Blush (Casa Valduga)
This sparkling rose comes from the large family winery, Casa Valduga. A specialist in bubbly as well as fine wines, Casa Valduga have a wide range of sparkling wines to try and this is just one of the lovely bubbles on offer. A 50/50 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay blend, don’t let its light pink salmon colour and delicate nose fool you – in the mouth this sparkling wine, with 25 months on the lees, it more complex and evolved with notes of dried fruit and almonds.
Cuvee Guiseppe Chardonnay (Miolo)
Vale dos Vinhedos is mostly famous for its Merlot and Chardonnay. This is Miolo winery’s icon Chardonnay from the valley and it shows why the Chardonnay in this region is so well-renowned. A complex mix of tropical fruits, peaches and honey with a creamy mouth that still holds onto its fresh acidity, even after almost a year in oak. This is one of the top Brazilian wines and one of Miolo’s many fine wines.
DNA99, Merlot (Pizzato)
Vale dos Vinhedos is famous for its Merlot, and this was one of the Merlots to put it on the map. Flavio Pizzato named his top Merlot DNA99 because it was in 1999 that he made his very first wine that shot him to fame. Since then he has made it on very good vintages, and always from his same vines in the valley. Dark ripe fruit and spices beg you to pair this with a delicious Brazilian feijoada.
Quorum (Lidio Carraro)
This Vale dos Vinhedos blend from boutique family winery, Lidio Carraro, is one of the top Brazilian wines and is only made in good vintages. A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Tannat, it sounds like it is going to be an overwhelming wine but their philosophy is no oak ageing and so the power comes only from the grapes. The result is a rich wine with dark fruit and spice, and that trademark acidity from the region.
Wines for weekdays…
Brazil Intenso Brut (Salton)
This fruity and fresh bubbly is Brazil’s version of Prosecco. Salton is the oldest winery in Brazil and one of the biggest sparkling wine producers. A pretty mix of Chardonnay, Prosecco (Glera) and Trebianno grapes this has a lovely bright nose filled with fruit aromas and a fresh and friendly mouth. It is a sparkling wine to knock back in the Brazilian sunshine as an aperitif or with a platter of seafood.
Sinais, Moscato Giallo (Don Guerino)
If you were going to think of the sort of wine that you’d want to drink by the beach in Brazil, this would be it. A flirty moscato with an abundance of floral and tropical fruit aromas with an attractive dry and aromatic mouth. This Moscato is fun and sunshine in a bottle!
Pinot Noir (Aurora)
Brazil’s largest co-operative, Aurora winery, make a huge range of wines. This Pinot Noir is made to be drunk within the year: using around 30% carbonic maceration, the result is a fresh and fruity light red. Drink it chilled and enjoy with one of the great stone-baked pizzas in the region!
Marselan (Perini)
Marselan is a variety that is becoming more popular in Brazil, and this is a good example of the variety from the Perini winery in Vale Trentino. Hot cherries, raspberry and cocoa notes burst from the nose and the mouth is smooth with more rich fruit. Part of their exotics line, the other to look out for is their Barbera.
