Wine growing as a profitable alternative in the cerrado was one of the highlights of the technical meetings and lectures at Expovitis 2024, held in the Federal District. One of them, by researcher Giuliano Pereira, from Embrapa Grape and Wine, presented Embrapa's new technologies for winemaking, in the panel Technologies, Research and Perspectives for Brazilian Winemaking. “These are viticultural and oenological technologies that have been validated in Rio Grande do Sul and the Cerrado region (Trijunção Project) and are available for all Brazilian viticulture,” he stated. Expovitis was held at the Ivaldo Cenci Technological Park, at PAD-DF.
Among these technologies are BRS varieties for both fine wines, table wines and juices, conduction systems, BRS yeasts, disease alert systems and tools that help producers identify nutritional deficiencies or even diseases in plants. According to the researcher, the idea is to implement several of these technologies in partner properties in the DF region, through joint work between Embrapa Uva e Vinho and Embrapa Cerrados, Vinícola Brasília, the National Association of Wine Producers of Winter (Anprovin) and Coopa-DF.
“We want to show that our viticulture can be a very profitable alternative, changing the scenario of a region, because it makes it possible to boost wine tourism, value the region's wine and gastronomy, in addition to crafts and local culture, providing sustainable rural and urban development as an alternative for family farming and also for corporate farming', stated the researcher.
According to researcher Giuliano Pereira, wine production in the DF follows the model initiated and validated by Epamig in Minas Gerais. This model expanded to all states in the southeast and central west of Brazil, focusing on the production of winter wines, with grape harvests between June and August, adopting the double pruning technique.
“During this period, the three essential factors occur for the production of wines that express high typicality, which are sunny days, dry soil and thermal variation between day and night. These factors mainly favor the synthesis of secondary metabolism in vines, promoting high concentrations of phenolic and aromatic compounds in grapes and wines”, explained the expert.
“This wine delivered an interesting tripod of lightness, freshness and not exaggerated sweetness. It is an aromatic and elegant wine, in addition, it is also a gastronomic wine; With it I can play with different harmonizations.” This was the assessment made by sommelier Bárbara Soares, when tasting the white wine produced with the BRS Lorena grape variety, developed by Embrapa Uva e Vinho (RS), at Expovitis 2024.
BRS Lorena is the most successful hybrid variety among the grapes developed by Embrapa for the production of wines, standing out mainly for its productivity, sweetness and oenological potential. The public who visited the Embrapa stand during the three days of the event (July 19th to 21st) were also able to taste a red wine, made with the BRS Magna grape, another white wine, made with the BRS Bibiana grape, as well as three juices whole grape, from the varieties BRS Rubea, BRS Magna and another from BRS Cora.
“I was very impressed with the fair. I didn't expect it to have the dimension it did in terms of size and also organization. Another very interesting feature of the event is that it focused on national wines. The vast majority of fairs do not do this”, highlighted Andrea de Rossi, head of Technology Transfer at Embrapa Uva e Vinho.
This articulation of the two units seeks to unite the expertise of Embrapa Uva e Vinho with the technologies of cultivars and the production system with that of Embrapa Cerrados related to the phytotechnics part and the validation of cultivars in the Cerrado region, in partnership with the productive sector , in favor of the even greater development of winemaking in the region. “It is essential that we manage together, by joining forces, to contribute in some way to this sector that is expanding”, stated Fábio Faleiro, head of TT at Embrapa Cerrados.
“This rapprochement between Embrapa Uva e Vinho and Embrapa Cerrados is fundamental so that we can contribute to the wine industry that is growing in the region. Alone we would be able to do very little in terms of contribution, mainly due to the physical distance we are from the region and the Cerrado wine growers', explained Andrea de Rossi, head of TT at Embrapa Uva e Vinho.
During the fair, meetings were held between managers and researchers from both units and representatives from the production sector. “Embrapa Cerrados is already a partner with many of these winemakers. This makes the work much easier and is essential for us to be able to contribute with our technologies, with our knowledge and, thus, generate new results”, says de Rossi. One of the meetings was held on 18/08, at the Vila Triacca winery, located in PAD-DF, with managers and researchers from Embrapa Uva e Vinho and Embrapa Cerrados, as well as businesspeople from Vinícola Brasília, Anprovin and Coopa-DF.
The assembly of Embrapa's stand at Expovitis 2024 was supported by the innovation programs of Embrapa Cerrados – Agrointegra (Innovation Program for the Development of the DF Pole and the Surroundings of the Milk Route and Respective Integration of Crop, Livestock, Forestry, Fruit and Floresta – ILPFF) and Frente (Innovation Program to Support the Fruit Growing Route of the Integrated Development Region of the Federal District and Surrounding Area).
Grape cultivation in the Cerrado region has increased significantly in recent years, especially in the DF and Surrounding regions. According to researcher Nilton Junqueira, an Embrapa Cerrados specialist in fruit growing, the production system for grapes in Cerrado conditions has been improved and this involves a great effort from producers.
“We learn a lot from them and this exchange of knowledge is essential”, he stated. According to him, the system used in the region is an adaptation of the one used in Petrolina (PE), Jales (SP) and Pirapora (MG). “But in this region where we are, the climate and soil are different and it is necessary to adjust cultivation techniques”, explains Junqueira.
Researcher Nilton Junqueira also highlighted the quality of the product that has been produced in the Cerrado. According to him, one of the factors that favor this result is the temperature range of the region. “Here, quality fruit is produced, sweet and acidic at the same time.” For the specialist, it is important, however, that there is crop diversification on properties, both to guarantee income for the producer and to contribute to the generation of employment.
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