September is a great month to celebrate Brazil. September 7th, is Brazilian Independence Day. In Portuguese, they say Dia Da Independência. Brazil declared it’s independence from Portugal on September 7th, 1822. While the biggest celebrations are of course held in Brazil, any city with a large Portuguese community hosts something, particularly New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto, London and many others. Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world with about 200 million people and produces wine in six regions.

Brazil has been producing wines since the beginning of the 1500s when the first vines were brought to Brazil by Martim Afonso de Souza, who came from Portugal with the aim of disseminating agriculture in the new colony. However, it was the arrival of Italian immigrants, a process initiated in 1875, which really spurred growth in the sector.

Brazil’s six main wine regions are Serra Gaúcha, Serra do Sudeste, Campanha, Campos de Cima da Serra, Planalto Catarinense and the Vale do São Francisco to the far North. Serra Gaûcha in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. is the most famous place for wines and represents about 85% of the industry. Bento Gonçlavez is the main city in Serra Gaûcha and as you can see, you enter through a wine barrel.

Famous for its beaches, its soccer, and its allegria, Brazil is making a name for itself as a wine tourism destination as well. I went in 2019. it should be on your bucket list. If you want to travel there virtually, join me on Saturday, September 23rd, 2023, on X for a discussion about the Wines of Brazil at 11:00am EST. You can find us using the hashtag #WorldWineTravel. Send me your titles by Thursday, September 21st, 2023 at 5:00pm EST. Questions will be posted Thursday too. Post your articles on Friday, September 22nd and Saturday, September 23rd by 9:00am EST. See you there.