Top 100 red wines of Santa Catarina

Discover the top 100 best red wines of Santa Catarina as well as the best winemakers in the region. Explore the varietals of the red wines that are popular of Santa Catarina and the best vintages to taste in this region.

Discovering the wine region of Santa Catarina

Santa Catarina is a state in the far South of Brazil. Quality wine production is still in its early stages, but is likely to develop rapidly as the industry develops country wide. To date, Santa Catarina's production is a mix of red, white and Sparkling wines. It Lies immediately North of the country's southernmost state (and most prolific wine region), Rio Grande do Sul.

Located between the latitudes of 26°S and 29°S, Santa Catarina is far from the most obvious of locations for winegrowing. It lies entirely outside the 'wine belt' (the band of latitudes in which effective viniculture is traditionally thought possible). In the southern hemisphere, the wine belt encircles the globe between 30°S and 45°S. It is on the high-lying plateau, the Planalto Catarinense, that almost all of Santa Catarina's vineyards are located.

The main wine-producing zones are in the central-southern portion of the state, around the towns of Sao Joaquim, Campos Novos and Cacador. Altitude plays a key role in the Terroir here, particularly in keeping temperatures down. The plateau ranges between 915m and 1400m (3000ft and 4600ft). Basalt soils feature strongly in some parts of the planalto and are credited with bringing complexity to the wines.

News from the vineyard of Santa Catarina

Robert Mondavi joins the NFT craze

Robert Mondavi Winery is the latest winery to join the NFT craze and its upcoming launch could be pivotal in determining if and how the rest of the wine industry will adopt cryptocurrency in the future. Consisting of a unique generative art piece that’s also attached to future experiences at the winery, Mondavi’s NFTs will accompany 1,966 1.5-litre porcelain wine bottles created in partnership with Bernardaud, the renowned French porcelain house that dates back to 1863. The porcelain bottles are ...

Preview: Tesco’s spring/summer tasting

Decanter attended Tesco’s spring/summer 2022 portfolio tasting at the end of April where over 140 wines were on show, 38 of which are new to the range. In anticipation of the full list of top buys, to follow soon, we’ve rounded up a few of our favourites to get you in the mood for spring. Tesco’s wine buying team highlighted 24 wines as their must-try buys, and five of these have featured in our initial spring roundup below. We think they showcase the diversity of the Tesco range and the value t ...

Best distilleries to visit in New York

As Manhattan’s first distillery since Prohibition opens to the public, Vicki Denig takes a look at the city’s distilling scene and recommends four other NY-based distilleries to visit.  America’s craft spirits industry is booming – and New York is home to one of its fastest-growing markets. Featuring over 160 craft distilleries, the state is no stranger to well-made, small-batch spirits. For those looking to taste their way through a robust market, there’s possibly no better place on the E ...

Top wines in regions and sub-regions of Santa Catarina