Grape production falls 1% and total 604 thousand tons this year in RS

PORTO ALEGRE-grape production in Rio Grande do Sul was 604 thousand tons this year, with a slight fall of 1% compared to 2013 due to the occurrence of some periods of frost and hail damage, reported on Wednesday the Brazilian Wine Institute (Ibravin). Of the total harvested, 89% correspond to and American hybrid varieties, used in the production of table wine and juice, and 11% the Vitis vinifera varieties, utilized in the production of fine wines.
According to the Vice President of the deliberative Council of Ibravin, Dirceu Scottá, the quality of the crop was "median" good ", especially for fruit intended for the production of wine-sparkling and base for young red wines of average guard. The Rio Grande do Sul is responsible for 90% of grape production in the country, according to the Institute.