AT THE end of last year, I participated in a world record -
although, sad to say, I don't think that it will ever feature in
Guinness World Records. Eight hundred and fifty of us
donned blindfolds to take part in the largest ever blind
wine-tasting in the world.
The occasion was the national evaluation of the 2014 vintage of
Brazilian wine in the country's wine capital, Bento Gonçalves.
It is only during the past year that Brazilian wine has begun to
make an impact in Britain, and we are now their number-one export
market. These wines have been launched on the back of the football
WorldCup, and the forthcoming Olympic Games in Rio do Janeiro.
Brazil is the third most important wine-producing country in
South America. The wine industry there dates from the 1880s, when
Italians came to settle in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul.
The plains close to the coast had already been settled by German
immigrants; so the Italians came to the hills of the Serra Gaucha,
further inland. Each family was granted a 25-hectare plot of land,
the majority planted with vines. Unfortunately, the climate there
is very humid; so, to resist rot, they planted native American
vines, which, although they thrive in difficult conditions,
produce, for the most part, execrable wine.
Recently, however, regions with more reliable climates have been
planted with the better European grape varieties.
Almost one third of the Brazilian wine production is sparkling,
and these fall into two main styles. The first is a Muscat-based
Asti Spumante type, generally around 7.5 to 8.5 per cent, and
sweet. Tesco has one of these on sale under an "I (heart) Brazil"
label, now on offer at £6.99; and Marks & Spencer has a
Carnival Sparkling Moscato at £8.99. At the same price, it also has
a Coconova Brut, which is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin, and
Verdejo, grown in the sub-tropical São Francisco Valley, where two
vintages a year are the norm.
Waitrose offers, under its own label, a Brazilian Merlot and
Chardonnay, both produced by Aurora. Both of these are fruity
un-oaked wines, selling for £8.99 and coming from Serra Gaucha
grapes. They also have two wines from another Serra Gaucha grower,
Casa Vladuga, which is also known for its quality sparkling wines.
These are a Cabernet/Merlot blend, and a fuller-bodied Chardonnay,
both at £13.49.
My favourite, however, is the Miolo Riqueza Pinot Noir Reserva,
which comes from the Campanha region, to the south along the border
with Uruguay. This has soft, appealing summer-fruit flavours.
Marks & Spencer also offers Miolo wines from Campanha: the
Araucauria Riesling/Pinot Grigio blend as a white (£8.49), and the
Alisios Tempranillo/Touriga Nacional as a full-bodied red (£8.99).
For those who want to offer something different to their guests,I
would suggest the M&S Intenso Teroldego, from the now
long-established Salton winery (£9.99).
Brazilian wines may be late arrivals, but they are very
welcome.