Research guarantees the production of grapes and wines from North to South of Brazil

This first Sunday in June, the 4th, will once again be celebrated as National Wine Day, a date created in 2017, based on a bill approved by the Federal Senate. To celebrate, wineries and restaurants usually plan a series of commemorative events to promote the consumption of Brazilian labels. And to also mark the date, Embrapa also takes stock of the main contributions of Brazilian research to the development and appreciation of winemaking in the country.  

The creation of Embrapa Uva e Vinho, in the city of Bento Gonçalves, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, initially aimed to facilitate the production of grapes and wines in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, as a continuation of the work begun in 1937 with the Central Enology Laboratory. Its challenges included generating technologies to boost the productivity of winemaking in Rio Grande do Sul; establish vine management systems, from nutritional to combating diseases and pests; identify quality standards and establish typology for juices, wines and spirits, in addition to stimulating the introduction, creation, selection and formation of virus-free vegetative material and contributing to the increase in the extraction and use of oenological waste.

The continental dimensions and diversity of Brazil, with different climates, soils and cultures, are also represented in the grapes and wines made from the north to the south of the country. Thanks to the research and attentive look of the scientists who are part of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, combined with partnerships with other institutions. In the year in which Embrapa turned 50, wine-growing Brazil transcended the expectations of the board that created the Research Center on August 26, 1976.

In 1985, its operations became national, ensuring that research actions advanced to other Brazilian regions and enabling Brazil to be the only country in the world where there is three types of viticulture (traditional, tropical and winter wines), for the production of grapes, juices and wines. In addition to the basic condition of different climates and soils, research was essential to guarantee this reality. “The involvement of the research team and the production sector was fundamental for the advancement of winemaking, which today no longer has borders. We have technologies to produce throughout the national territory”, says the general manager of Embrapa Grape and Wine Adeliano Cargnin.

Part of this spirit made Brazil win the first Indication of Origin (GI) for wines from tropical regions of the world in 2022. “Brazil is a highlight on the international scene in research into tropical viticulture, production that also occurs in countries such as Thailand, India, Myanmar (formerly Burma) and Venezuela . Receiving and sharing each bottle that will bear the Geographical Indication seal means guaranteeing the origin and quality of the products produced”, highlights researcher Giuliano Elias Pereira, who coordinated a team from different entities.

In addition to leading the achievement of the first global nomination for tropical wines, Embrapa Uva e Vinho was also pioneer in introducing the concept of Geographical Indication in Brazil, with the work developed together with producers from Vale dos Vinhedos gathered in the Association of Fine Wine Producers of Vale dos Vinhedos (Aprovale). Vale dos Vinhedos was the first recognized geographical indication in Brazil. In 2002, it obtained the Indication of Origin (IP) registration from INPI and, in 2012, the

Denomination of origin

“The recognition of Geographical Indications for Brazilian wines established a new chapter of national winemaking, valuing traditional products from certain territories, enabling the protection of the producing region and guaranteeing consumers differentiated wines, meeting specific production requirements for each Indication”, highlights Jorge Tonietto, researcher at Embrapa Uva e Vinho and responsible for coordinating activities, which as one of the latest achievements has the designation of origin (DO) Altos de Pinto Bandeira, the first in the Southern Hemisphere to dedicate itself exclusively to the production of natural sparkling wine, also obtained in 2022.

In addition to being present in different regions to support producers and facilitate research to ensure sustainable production, Embrapa Uva e Vinho also ensured that producers in 21 Brazilian states are supported by the new Agricultural Zoning of Grape Climate Risk (ZARC Uva) , with the unification of criteria and guaranteeing producers of safer grape production, as they can count on Proagro and Agricultural Insurance.

Grape Genetic Improvement Program

Seeking to offer more competitive alternatives for the production sector, since 1977, Embrapa Uva e Vinho implemented the Embrapa Genetic Improvement Program, 'Uvas do Brasil', aimed at obtaining cultivars adapted to the climate and soil in different Brazilian regions. Since its conception, the program aimed to identify the main difficulties in the daily lives of winegrowers, with special attention to the adaptation of cultivars to the Brazilian climate and to develop alternatives to increase the competitiveness of producers in three main areas: table grapes (for fresh consumption, preferably without seeds), grapes for making juice and wine. The Program has already launched 21 cultivars for table, juice and wine that present advantages for producers, such as high productivity, different production cycles, high resistance to diseases, higher concentrations of sugars, aromas and flavors.

Worthy of mention is ‘BRS Vitória’, a seedless black table grape cultivar that won over Brazilians and foreigners and promoted a true revolution in the Brazilian semi-arid region, increasing the competitiveness of winegrowers located in Brazil’s main table grape producing and exporting hub. It currently represents 30% of cultivation in the region.

In addition to advances in the consolidation of winemaking in traditional regions, Embrapa Uva e Vinho offered technological support and enabled the expansion of winemaking in new production centers, with an emphasis on the Southeast, Northeast and Center-West regions. Highlight for the offer of cultivars, such as 'BRS Magna' and 'Isabel Precoce', suitable for producing grape juice in regions with a tropical climate; guidance on production systems or even adjustments to product preparation methods.

For the development of new cultivars, the company structured the largest collection of grapevine germplasm in Latin America called the Active Grape Germplasm Bank, with more than 1500 accessions. Based on this collection, new cultivars are developed using classical breeding methods.

Superior quality vine seedlings

Since the creation of the Unit, several research actions have been carried out to qualify the production of vegetative material based on the pioneering work of clonal cleaning carried out by the virology and tissue culture teams in the 80s. established a National Program with the objective of providing basic vine material with superior phytosanitary quality, in partnership with nurseries accompanied by a voluntary certification system. Through the program, Embrapa works in partnership with the Association of Seed and Seedling Producers of Rio Grande do Sul (APASSUL) in training and technical monitoring of nurseries, which automatically provide high quality genetic materials with productive potential within international standards.

In addition to all these achievements, the unit continues working towards national winemaking, with immediate challenges supporting the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in the dissemination and implementation of SIVIBE (Wine and Beverage Information System) in the different producing regions, new actions aimed at digital agriculture, work with waste from the wine industry.