Brazil
Vines have been grown in Brazil since the sixteenth century, though several false starts and the challenges of the climate have made the country a relative newcomer to the production of export quality wine. As a nation, it ranks third in South American wine production terms, behind Argentina and Chile; however, most of its wine production is consumed locally. The majority of Brazil's vineyards are clustered in the far south of the country, near the border with Uruguay, where the combination of latitude and altitude brings suitably temperate conditions for European grape vine varieties to flourish. Perhaps surprisingly, these are regions where ripeness is hard-earned. Brazil has a growing reputation for sparkling wine thanks to the low alcohol and high acidity possible here, and even the still wines are fresh and crisp.
