Vinho do Gramado

Vinho do Gramado

The vast plains of Latin America stretch for thousands of miles pushing Atlantic breezes westward over the hills of Uruguay and onwards to Mendoza Valley, nourishing dark red grapes. But this is not the story of those grapes. This tale is of the unsung little Latin cousin of the more famous Malbec and Tannat – the grapes that create the vinho branco suave.

Sitting in sultry Rio de Janiero, few people can imagine that the tropical country of Brazil can produce wine. But only a few hours north of rainy, hot Puerto Alegre – climbing out of the famous, sprawling pampas, and into hills of increasingly higher altitudes and through multitudes of pineiro trees – a few pleasantly surprised travelers find the German town of Gramado. This little town, with German architecture placed picturesquely on a high ridgeline is famous for its chocolate, fondue, and white wine.

The generically-named vinho branco suave is anything but ordinary. Its sweet taste is reminiscent of its German ancestors – the Riesling, the Pinot Gris, and the Gewurtztraminer. But there is certainly a unique quality in the flowery, silky sweetness, the warm aftertaste, and the refreshing light-golden color. It is similar to the taste of many old world grapes introduced into more tropical, wetter climates where only the strongest and sweetest survive to fruition.

If you find yourself in southern Brazil, weary of either the tropical forests to the north or the rambling plains to the south, seat yourself atop the cultural outpost of Gramado. There you can enjoy a cheese fondue, relish in the cool breeze of the mountains, nibble on some chocolate and sip your sweet, almost-German wine.