Following the trend of the recovery of tourism activities in Brazil, which indicates a preference for short trips and nature, the wine tourism segment is in full recovery. And optimistic. Tourism associated with culture, tradition, and wine appreciation has strengthened in the country, along with the infrastructure to serve tourists with hotels, inns, bars, and restaurants. The scenario becomes even more promising with the arrival of the harvest season, which is the grape harvesting time. In honor of the Winemaker’s Day, celebrated on October 22, the Tourism News Agency spoke with representatives from one of the fastest-growing segments in the country.
The numbers show that wine tourism was responsible for many trips across Brazil. According to Uvibra (Brazilian Union of Viticulture), before the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, the number of “wine tourists” was growing by 10% to 15% per year. Only the city of Bento Gonçalves (RS) received more than 1.5 million tourists in 2019, with 500,000 alone in the Vale dos Vinhedos. The expectation is that in 2021 the sector can resume the same performance.
The president of Uvibra, Deunir Argenta, highlights that a large part of the wineries are small and family-owned, with a significant dependence on wine tourism. “Direct sales to consumers at the winery’s retail, the producer’s contact with the tourist, and experiences around grape and wine culture are fundamental for the sector’s development,” he said. Argenta also explains that, with the growth of wine tourism, a structure to serve visitors has also emerged. “An example is the Vale dos Vinhedos, the only region in the country with a Denomination of Origin (DO) for wines,” he stated.
The president of the Brazilian Union of Viticulture also emphasized that, with proximity tourism, which is expected to increase significantly due to international travel still being distant, wine tourism has everything to gain. “This will be great for recovering the losses from the period when wineries had to be closed, which also impacted the entire tourism trade,” he declared. “We are on the verge of another harvest, a period that has been gaining more demand from tourists. The expectation is high,” he bet.
Depending on the time of year, tourists can experience various activities in wine tourism, but it is only from January to March that they can experience the harvest in the southern part of the country. It is possible to participate in the harvest through a tourist program designed specifically for this purpose. The experiences also include picnics, harmonized lunches and dinners, quick tasting courses, guided tours with tastings, tractor rides through the vineyard, night harvesting, cinema among the vineyards, among other options.
And the recovery has already begun. Bento Gonçalves (RS), for example, was a pioneer in the Clean and Safe Environment Seal that trained and evaluated establishments in the segment. The initiative is from the local government based on the safety protocols of the Ministry of Health, which provides for the availability of 70% alcohol gel, use and availability of masks, controlled distancing, reduced capacity, general cleaning every 3 hours, awareness signage, and training.
One of the most famous wine tourism options in Brazil, the Vale dos Vinhedos is located in the center of the triangle formed by the cities of Bento Gonçalves, Monte Belo do Sul, and Garibaldi. The route, which received half a million tourists last year, gained a complete guide, prepared by the website Vida Sem Paredes, which reports experiences of conscious and quality travel and tourism.
The Vale dos Vinhedos is the first Brazilian region officially recognized as a Geographical Indication and to have a Denomination of Origin (DO), an exclusive classification that guarantees that the wines and sparkling wines produced there have unique qualities.
Nange Sá, journalist and co-founder of the website Vida Sem Paredes, highlighted the advantages of enjoying this type of tourism to also learn about the history of our country. “For both wine lovers and those who do not usually consume the drink, visiting the Vale dos Vinhedos is an immersion into the history of wine, the history of immigrants, and, in a way, our own history,” she opined. “For me, it is very valid to visit famous wineries, but something essential is also to visit family wineries, talk to people, and learn their stories. Only then can you understand the importance of wine, which goes far beyond being a delicious and romantic drink.”
The winemaker is the professional capable of transforming grapes into wine, sparkling wine, and grape juice. He is a professional who knows all the procedures related to the production process of the beverage with a certain standard. His work in wine production is closely linked to science and technology. Everything to understand the terroir of each region (soil, climate) extracting the best from it to make the best wine of his life.
For the president of ABE (Brazilian Association of Enology), Daniel Salvador, the winemaker also occupies other positions today, acting in wine marketing, tourism, and management. “When we open a bottle of wine or sparkling wine and taste it, we do not realize that behind it there is always a winemaker, regardless of the commercial brand. After all, the banner of the Brazilian winemaker is Brazilian wine,” he explained.
Source: Ministry of Tourism