Rio Sol

Pernambuco, Brazil

These truly astonishing vineyards lie at 8 degrees south of the equator, in northeastern Brazil, about 500 miles inland from Recife, on the river Sao Fransisco, which forms the border between the states of Pernambuco and Bahia.

The vineyards lie in the area downstream from the massive man-made Sobradinho lake, and form part of a large irrigation project growing fruit commercially.  Many of the vineyards locally, including this one, were laid down for the production of table grapes, but the possibility of producing quality wines in this continuously warm climate, has captured the imagination of a generation of new vignerons.

Controlled by irrigation and pruning, more than two harvests per annum are possible, and crop levels can almost be pre-determined, as can quality.  There is no rain for 10 months of the year, the vineyards lie in a semi-desert region.  Each variety has a known maximum crop/quality ratio, and irrigation levels can be set accordingly.  Some grapes take longer to ripen, some grapes don't like to be over-cropped, and all these factors have been learned over time.

Premium and reserve quality wine, therefore, can be pre-planned by controlling both yield (by pruning) and reducing irrigation levels.

A visit to this astonishing place only serves to confuse the wine expert brought up on single annual harvests.  Vines can be at any given state of development on any given day.  Some blocks will be going through veraison, while the neighbouring block is being harvested.  A little further down the track a block is being pruned in readiness for the next harvest.  You get the picture.  See the three part photograph below, all shots taken on the same day - or the aerial shot above, showing different blocks at different stages of development.

The vineyards are owned and farmed by Portuguese company Dao Sul / Global wines, and stocks are available Ex Cellars in PORTUGAL

Red wine - Cabernet Sauvignon & Shiraz

Rosé wine - Shiraz

White wine - Viognier & Chenin Blanc

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GoBrazil of Ipswich deal with on trade supply in the UK

-also find the wine at the Cabana restaurant chain in London