Serra Gaúcha is a Brazilian wine region in the Southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, where Brazil meets Uruguay. Its name is apt: the landscape here is characterized by low mountain ranges (serras) and populated by gaúchos, the cowboys of the Brazilian Pampas.
Small landholdings of just a few hectares are the norm in Serra Gacúha, which makes co-operative winemaking almost a necessity. The cost of buying and maintaining winemaking equipment is considerable, so local vignerons pool their resources and invest in shared, co-operative wineries.
It was through similar collaborative efforts that a group of Serra Gaúcha winemakers successfully campaigned for the creation of Vale do Vinhedos DO, Brazil's first wine appellation. With the infamous Bento Goncalves at the heart, Serra Gaúcha is considered the wine capital region of Brazil and is responsible for 80 percent of the entire country's production of wine.
Serra Gaúcha's Terroir is characterized by the region's altitude and latitude, while the local culture is tangibly influenced by the immigrant populations from Germany and Italy. Porto Alegre is the state capital and is, as its name impLies, a harbor town.
It lies at the eastern edge of the Serra Gaúcha winelands, and from there the land rises from sea level to more than 2,500 feet (760m) at Caixas do Sul, the state's second city and local wine capital. The altitude and mountainous topography here are vital to the area's suitability for viticulture, providing cooling temperatures to create a longer growing season and higher acid retention. Soil type of the region is also attributed to the altitude with viticulture predominantly found planted in pockets of volcanic basalt that is high in nutrients.
The local cuisine and architecture show significant Italian influences, and Italy is largely to thank for the birth of effective viticulture here in the late 19th Century.
It is said to be of Slovenian origin, where it is cultivated under the name of Prosekar, also known for a long time in Italy under the name of Glera. It should not be confused with prosecco lungo - although there is a family link - and prosecco nostrano, which is none other than Tuscany's malvasia. Note that Vitouska - another Italian grape variety - is the result of a natural intraspecific cross between Tuscan malvasia and Prosecco. Under the name of Glera, it is registered in the Official Catalogue of wine grape varieties list A. It can be found in practically all of the former Yugoslavia, and more surprisingly in Argentina, but is virtually unknown in France.
sparkling wines from the region of Serra Gaúcha go well with generally quite well with dishes of pork, rich fish (salmon, tuna etc) or shellfish such as recipes of pork colombo, lemon and tuna risotto or flambéed prawns.
On the nose in the region of Serra Gaúcha often reveals types of flavors of cream, tropical fruit or apricot and sometimes also flavors of yellow peach, orange or red fruit. In the mouth in the region of Serra Gaúcha is a with a nice vivacity and a fine and pleasant bubble.
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