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.
Charles Lamboley, marketing and communication director from Vignerons des Terres Secrètes, explains the differences between the appellation Mâcon-Villages and Mâcon plus a geographical denomination. This video is taken from the “Rendez-vous avec les vins de Bourgogne” program (March 2020). The Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB) invites you to enjoy this video in which Jean-Pierre Renard, Expert Instructor at the Ecole des Vins de Bourgogne, explains the topographical and geological characteristics of t ...
In line with our previous videos « The Climats of Chablis seen from the sky » and « The vineyards of Bourgogne, seen from the sky » », the Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB) and the Union des Producteurs de Vins de Mâcon offer you a new stroll at the heart of the Mâcon terroir. Established in 1937, this Régionale appellation is divided into three levels: – The first level is known as white, red or rosé Mâcon. The grapes used can come from all around the Mâconnais. – The second level is name ...
Clotilde Davenne, from the eponymous estate, mentions the cherry as a main characteristic of the Irancy appellation. She tells us about the Pinot Noir variety which reveals, in its northern location of Bourgogne, lots of freshness and fruitiness that gives the appellation a very special place among the wines of the region. This video is taken from the “Rendez-vous avec les vins de Bourgogne” program (June 2020). Our social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BourgogneWines Twitter: https: ...
