rural route · Bento Gonçalves, RS
Vale dos Vinhedos
Brazil's benchmark wine region, with dozens of wineries open for visits, tastings and lunch among the vineyards. The landscape of hills covered in grapes is a portrait of Italian settlement in southern Brazil.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Vale dos Vinhedos
The Vale dos Vinhedos (Valley of the Vineyards) is a rural area of vine-covered hills between Bento Gonçalves, Garibaldi and Monte Belo do Sul. Most of it is in Bento. The region was settled by immigrants from northern Italy from 1875 on, who brought grapes and the custom of making wine at home. The family cantinas became wineries, and today the valley has more than 30 of them, producing about 12 million bottles a year.
It was the first region in Brazil to earn a geographical indication for wine: Indication of Origin in 2002 and Designation of Origin in 2012, still the country's only wine DO. The DO rules require, for example, at least 60% Merlot in the reds and Chardonnay in the whites that carry the seal. The Indication of Origin area covers about 81 km², 63% of it in Bento Gonçalves. The valley receives about 450,000 visitors a year.
The outing goes from winery to winery, with cellar visits and tastings. From the big houses to small family cantinas, each one shows its process and sells directly to visitors. Along the way there are Italian restaurants, cheese makers, shops selling country-style products and hotels set among the vineyards.
The main road is RS-444, the Estrada do Vinho, which cuts through the valley. Via Trento is an alternative route, with more rural scenery. The producers' association, Aprovale, founded in 1995, is headquartered on RS-444 itself and helps you plan your route. What sets it apart from other wine routes is the concentration: you can visit several wineries in a day, within a few kilometers.
Before you go
Practical information
How much time to set aside
A full day, for three or four wineries and a leisurely lunch.
Best time
The vindima (grape harvest), at the start of the year, when the grapes are picked and there are harvest events. Outside harvest the valley is open all year; in fall the vines turn yellow and red.
How to get there
Leave downtown Bento Gonçalves on RS-444, the Estrada do Vinho (Wine Road). You can go by car, but if you plan to taste, book a tour, transfer or driver.
Tip
Many wineries only receive visitors by appointment. Book ahead, and don't drive after tastings: the valley's own association recommends hiring transportation.
Official website
A look at the place
Vale dos Vinhedos in pictures
These pictures are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs. They may differ from the place.
Click the picture to enlarge it.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Vale dos Vinhedos
Do I need to book winery visits?
At many of them, yes. The valley's association recommends booking ahead, especially for tastings and guided cellar tours.
Can I do the route without a car?
Yes, with a booked tour, transfer or driver. That's what the valley's association recommends if you plan to taste.
What is the Vale dos Vinhedos Designation of Origin?
It's the strictest wine origin seal in Brazil, earned by the valley in 2012, ten years after the Indication of Origin. Reds with the seal contain at least 60% Merlot.
When is the grape harvest?
At the start of the year, in summer, when the grapes are picked. It's the season for harvest events in the valley.