Minas Gerais gained fame over the years with its delicacies, such as cheese O coffee and the milk cream just to name a few, which are even considered cultural heritage.
Now, recognition begins to gain new horizons and encompasses the alcoholic beverage industry .
The alembic cachaça kicked off: consolidated Minas as the largest producer in the country. Following the same path, the viticulture in Minas Gerais is the new promise of the sector.
Wine production in the region is largely concentrated in the vicinity of the Serra da Mantiqueira , mountain range that extends to the border with São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The name Mantiqueira has Tupi origin and is a combination of Amana (rain) and tikira (drop).
In fact, we are talking about lands with high rainfall, especially in summer, which is the time when the grapes are originally harvested.
The problem is that this favors the appearance of fungal diseases in the vineyards, in addition to diluting the sugar concentration in the fruit.
winter harvest
In an attempt to “dribble” the natural cycle of the vine, the Brazilian agronomist Murillo Regina improved a technique known as “double pruning”, which transfers the harvest to the winter when climatic conditions are ideal for the highest quality grapes: hot days, cold nights and dry weather.
The method enabled the cultivation of grapes with a higher concentration of sugar and, consequently, wines with a higher alcohol content and structure, placing the Southeast on the map of national viticulture.
The first harvest in Minas Gerais was made just two decades ago and, since then, many wineries have emerged and new techniques have been developed in the region.
“It is a very promising story despite being recent, even more so when compared to the viticultural scene in southern Brazil”, celebrates Matheus Cassimiro, agronomist and executive manager of Anprovin – National Association of Winter Wine Producers.
Regional Pride
A The first winery in Minas Gerais to work with winter management was Estrada Real , in Tres Coracoes. The name alludes to the ancient paths through which gold and diamonds flowed from Minas Gerais to the region of Paraty and Rio de Janeiro.
Maria Maria was another project that emerged shortly afterwards, whose name is a tribute to the iconic song of the singer from Minas Gerais Milton Nascimento, friend and fellow countryman of the owner of the winery, who until then was dedicated to coffee growing.
And so the history of Minas Gerais viticulture is woven, full of regionalisms and connections with the local culture.
Source: CNN Brasil
Johanna Foster is an expert opinion writer with over 7 years of experience. She has a reputation for delivering insightful and thought-provoking articles on a variety of subjects. Her work can be found on some of the top online news websites, and she is currently lending her voice to the world stock market.
