Top 100 wines of Bahia
Discover the top 100 best wines of Bahia as well as the best winemakers in the region. Explore the varietals of the wines that are popular of Bahia and the best vintages to taste in this region.
Discovering the wine region of Bahia
Bahia is one of Brazil's 26 states, located in the middle of the vast country's east (Atlantic) coast. Despite its proximity to the Equator, Bahia is home to wine producing Grapevines. These are almost exclusively located in the Vale do São Francisco, one of the world's most extreme wine regions.
However Bahia's agricultural economy is focused much more heavily on cacao (of which it is Brazil's main producer) and soybeans.
Bahia's economy was founded on sugar and tobacco production between the 16th and 18th Centuries.
The region measures about 1000 kilometers (600 miles) from North to South, and about the same from east to west. It stretches between the latitudes of 8°S and 18°S.
The Climate throughout Bahia is tropical.
Annual rainfall averages vary massively from region to region, from 15 inches to 80 inches (380mm to 2000mm) a year. The drier areas are, naturally enough, those further inland, away from the maritime influences of the coast. Roughly two thirds of Bahia is classified as semi arid.
The Vale do São Francisco (the state's sole wine region) is located 440km (275 miles) inland and ranks among the world's driest grape growing areas.
Discover the grape variety: Tannat
Tannat is a red grape variety from Béarn which belongs to the cotoïdes family. Present in several vineyards of France, it occupies nearly 3,000 ha. Its leaves are reddish with tan patches. Its bunches are either of normal size or larger. Its berries have a thin skin and are rounded. Its foliage has a swarthy appearance. This variety must be pruned long because it is vigorous. It likes sandy and gravelly soils. Tannat is often exposed to leafhoppers and mites. It is also somewhat susceptible to grey rot. It has 11 approved clones, including 474, 717 and 794. Once mature, this variety produces acidic, fruity, tannic, acidic and full-bodied wines. Various aromas emerge, notably tobacco, cinnamon and exotic wood. Tannat is rarely used alone. It is combined with iron-servadou to obtain a fruitier taste or with cabernet sauvignon to be more rounded.
Food and wine pairing with a wine of Bahia
wines from the region of Bahia go well with generally quite well with dishes of pork, rich fish (salmon, tuna etc) or shellfish such as recipes of new york hot dog, grilled sea bass with herbs or blanquette of the sea.
