The Vale do São Francisco ("Valley of Saint Francis") is a river valley in the state of Bahia, eastern Brazil. The most remarkable thing about the valley as a wine region is its equatorial latitude, just 9°S. This places it only 1000 kilometers (625 miles) South of the Equator, and 2400km (1500 miles) North of Brazil's core winelands in Rio Grande do Sul. The Climate here is classified as semi-arid tropical.
It is hot and Dry, with just 600 millimeters (24 inches) of rain per year.
At first glance, the Vale do São Francisco seems to entirely disprove the idea of the "wine belt", the band of latitudes in which effective viniculture is thought practicable. In the southern hemisphere, the wine belt encircles the globe between 30°S and 45°S. But in fact it is more of an exception that proves the rule; the Vines are entirely reliant on irrigation from the São Francisco River, and their productivity cycles are dependent on human intervention rather than natural seasonal influences.
It can hardly be said that this is a "natural" place to grow Grapes and make wine.
The grapes grown in this tropical environment are rarely, if ever, of fine-wine quality. But what they lack in quality they make up for in quantity; many vineyards here produce two annual vintages rather than one. Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon lead the red wine grape varieties, and Muscat is also cultivated here, often to make Sparkling wines.
wines from the region of Vale do São Francisco go well with generally quite well with dishes of pork, rich fish (salmon, tuna etc) or shellfish such as recipes of basque piperade, salmon steak on a bed of leeks or linguine with squid ink and cockles.
On the nose in the region of Vale do São Francisco often reveals types of flavors of oaky, tree fruit or vegetal and sometimes also flavors of earth, dried fruit or black fruit. In the mouth in the region of Vale do São Francisco is a with a nice freshness.
On December 10, 2020, four Hong Kong personalities discussed Chablis wines on a live webinar: Yang LU, Master Sommelier and Official Bourgogne Wines Ambassador, Debra MEIBURG, Master of Wine, Ivy NG, Official Bourgogne Wines Ambassador and Rebecca LEUNG, wine expert. In this minute-long clip, Debra MEIBURG discusses the position of Chablis wines in the Hong Kong market. #Chablis #PureChablis ...
Sequence from the video « At the heart of the Mâcon terroir » which offer a stroll at the heart of the Mâcon terroir. It offers a focus on Mâcon-Péronne, one of the 27 geographical denominations of the Mâcon appellation. Travel through the terroirs of the Mâcon appellation by watching the full video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF20y1aBZh8 Both are availablein French and English. Our social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BourgogneWines Twitter: https://twitter.com/BourgogneWine ...
Sequence from the video « At the heart of the Mâcon terroir » which offer a stroll at the heart of the Mâcon terroir. It offers a focus on Mâcon-Lugny, one of the 27 geographical denominations of the Mâcon appellation. Travel through the terroirs of the Mâcon appellation by watching the full video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF20y1aBZh8 Both are available in French and English. Our social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BourgogneWines Twitter: https://twitter.com/BourgogneWines ...
