Brazil’s Thirst for the Growth of its Wines & Spirits

Brazil’s food and beverage industry has grown at a steady pace and alongside the agribusiness sector, it contributes domestically to 21.1% of Brazil’s total GDP. Internationally, Brazil is projected to contribute 40% of the global food supply alone by 2050.

More specifically, the Brazilian wine market generated approximately USD $3.9 billion in revenue in 2020 and has been annually increasing ever since. The country is home to six diverse regions and more than 1,100 wineries that produce more than 750,000 tons of grapes annually. Moreover, it is the sixth major producer of wine in the Southern Hemisphere and the 18^th top producer of fine wine in the world. The primary varietals produced in Brazil include merlot, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, moscato, and chardonnay. The United States leads the world in terms of the fastest growing export market for wines of Brazil between 2019 and 2020, accounting for $2.25 million USD in exports in 2020.

ApexBrasil, the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency, together with Wines of Brazil, which is a strategic initiative formed in partnership by ApexBrasil and the Brazilian winemaking association, Uvibra-Consevitis-RS, offer insights about why retailers and consumers should consider Brazilian wines, spirits, and other beverages.

Alberto Carlos Bicca, Agribusiness Coordinator at ApexBrasil, shared: “Brazil’s wine culture is deeply embedded in the heritage of our country. Driving our impressive wine exports are sparkling wines, whose light and pleasant quality, thanks to the basaltic soil of the region, has helped push the country as a major player in global wine production. In addition to wines, other alcoholic drinks in the Brazil beverages market include beer, brandy, specialty spirits, vodka, and whisk(e)y.”

“One drink that the country is well known for and which lends itself to creating delicious, summery cocktails is cachaça, which is Brazil’s most popular spirit.”

“Distilled from fermented sugarcane juice, this spirit is a spicy and sweet clear liquor that is used in Brazil to make caipirinhas – a national drink akin to a mojito that would serve as the perfect complement to staple American summer dishes, like grilled chicken and fish tacos.”

Many Brazil-made products are available in markets such as the USA. Brazilian wine – including CRS Brands, Casa Valduga, Garibaldi Winemaking Cooperative, Miolo, and Familia Salton – can be found in specialty wine stores across the country, easily located on wine review sites.

Some additional information on these five wineries highlighted above:

• Casa Valduga: Now led by patriarch Luiz Valduga, the winery has been family-run since it was founded in 1875 by immigrants from the northern Italian city of Roverto. Located in Brazil’s “Vale dos Vinhedos” wine-growing region, Casa Valduga creates outstanding red, white, and sparkling wines, while prioritizing sustainable farming methods that use less than half the water and chemicals traditionally used in winemaking.
• CRS Brands: CRS Brands is one of the largest alcoholic beverage companies in Latin America. Founded by Italian winemaker Santo Cereser in 1888, CRS distributes proprietary labels including Dom Bosco, Georges Aubert, Massimiliano, and Quinta das Videiras among other wine and spirits brands.
• Garibaldi: Garibaldi Winemaking Cooperative utilizes the latest best practices in agroecology and governance to create high-quality wines that promote sustainability and fair trade. Since its founding in 1931, Garibaldi has grown as a cooperative and today its portfolio of sparkling wines, wines, and juices exceeds 70 labels.
• Miolo: Miolo Wine Group is the largest wine exporter in Brazil. Miolo operates four wineries, averaging 10 million liters per year across 1,000 hectares of vineyard. Founded in 1897, the family-owned company is always searching for innovative ways to build upon their high-quality selection of products across sparkling wines, unique terroirs, and grape juice products.
• Salton: The Familia Salton winery was officially founded in the city of Bento Gonçalves in 1910 by the sons of Antonio Domenico Salton, who made homemade wine like many Italian immigrants of the era. The winery is now a leader in Brazil’s sparkling wine sector, exporting more than 800,000 bottles per year, sharing Brazil’s unique flavors with customers across the globe.

Cachaça brands sold in the U.S. include Novo Fogo, Weber Haus, Tellura, and Pitú. In addition, notable Brazil-made gin and rum brands suitable for summer get-togethers are available via online delivery platforms that specialize in selling liquor, as well as specialty stores across the country.

Brazilian non-alcoholic sodas are also sold in the USA, a favourite of which is flavoured with guaraná, a super fruit found in the Amazon Rainforest. These unique, regional sodas can serve as an excellent mixer for summery cocktails or as an alternative to ginger ale or lemonade. Brazilian sodas are available on online delivery platforms, and there are also Brazilian online supermarkets that offer a plethora of Brazilian products like soft drinks and juices.

ApexBrasil considers food and beverage as a key priority sector and is focused on developing new international business relationships to increase exports around the world (such as cachaça as per the example below). To learn more about ApexBrasil’s other trade sector projects, visit: http://www.apexbrasil.com.br/en/trade-sectors.