Wine-blunts production in Mines with variety and new labels

Experimental farm of Caldas is a producer on that adopted the new technique of the Epamig
In the second half of this year, miners will release three new brands of fine wines, one of them being the first sparkling wine produced in the State. The new brands will join the First label, released in 2011 on a pioneer in Minas, adopting double pruning vines technology developed by the company de Pesquisa Agropecuária do Estado de Minas Gerais (Epamig). Over the next two years, the annual production of fine wines in the State should reach 500 thousand liters. The prediction is that, in this period, five mining companies launch new brands.
The forecasts are of the Epamig that, since 2005, has been stepping up the research for the production of top quality grapes. Created by the State Government, the goal of Technological Core Grape and wine of the institution is to become a center of reference in technological development and training of skilled labor to meet the demand of wine, both in Minas Gerais as in other southeastern States with suitability for the production of fine wines.
Currently, validation are three sparkling brands manufactured in Andradas, Caldas and Dinolândia (SP)-Villa Mosconi, Verrone and first road Brut, respectively-that soon will be available for sale. The brands are in the process of registration in the Ministry of agriculture, livestock and food supply (Mapa). Two other brands of fine wines, produced in Cordislândia, in the South of the State and the municipality of Espírito Santo do Pinhal (SP), are also in the process by private companies. The process for validation of labels takes, on average, eight months.
Winemaker of the Epamig, Marita Carlin Dal ´ Ostu attests that Minas Gerais has a large wine-producing potential to be explored and, from next year, you should observe a considerable increase of releases of new brands of fine wines, including sparkling. "The prospects take into account the good results that have been achieved by research implemented by Epamig in partnership with rural producers and entrepreneurs", attests to the winemaker.
According to Marita, the municipalities of Baependi, Andradas, Varginha, Três Corações, Santo Antônio do Amparo, Três Pontas and São Sebastião do Paraíso are those who have promising results in exploitation of viticulture and winemaking.
Autumn/winter crop is differential
Businessman Rodrigo Carrara Pandey, Santo Antônio do Amparo, in southern Minas Gerais, prepares to launch this year, the "Unusual", dry red wine produced from the grape cultivation of Syrah. The registration process at the Ministry of agriculture is already in progress.
"We are able to manufacture a similar product in the world, originally from autumn/winter crop which guarantees a top quality", confirms the entrepreneur. "The work performed by Epamig with the development of technology that enables the farmer to harvest grapes in autumn/winter period was of utmost importance to give a fantastic quality to differential production of fine wines in the State", complements Rodrigo Peixoto.
He reveals that the initial production of 4 thousand bottles will be commercialized in Belo Horizonte, taking into account the potential consumer market in the region.
The technology of the Epamig that Rodrigo refers, that is animating farmers and entrepreneurs, is the pair of pruning grape vines in the months January and August. Such a procedure, developed by researcher pioneering form and coordinator of the Technological Core Grape and wine, Murillo de Albuquerque Regina, implies the reversal of the productive cycle of the vine, changing to winter the harvesting period, contrary to what is traditionally done.
"The Syrah vine proved to be more productive in this system in the light of lower temperatures and lower water availability. All factors were higher, showing greater concentration of sugars, less acidity, greater antocianimas and content of polyphenols, preponderant aspects for obtaining fine wine of quality ", attests the agronomist.
According to Murillo, you can explore a wide range of oenological potential within Minas Gerais, including the production of grapes for table wines, white wines and sparkling wines. In the South and southwest of the State, include the municipalities of Three Hearts, Cordislândia and Caldas. In the Northwest, the municipality of João Pinheiro already have actions in this area. In the North of Minas Gerais and Vale do Jequitinhonha, Pirapora and Diamantina begin to develop the activity.
In addition, currently, in the region of Serra da Mantiqueira, 20 farmers are developing similar projects. They cultivate vines of varieties Syrah, for red wines, and Sauvignon Blanc for white wines. Are also being cultivated the varieties Chardonnay and Pinot Noir for sparkling wine production.
The Grape and wine Technology, Core of the Epamig, has a winery where, on an experimental basis, have been processed grapes produced in the municipalities of Caldas, Andradas and Divinolândia (SP).
The competition
According to the agronomist Murillo Albuquerque, although still at an early stage of production, the fine wines miners already have policies to compete in terms of quality, with imported products especially from Argentina and Chile. "The very first road, for example, is already being marketed in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo and in tourist towns of the interior as a miner Poços de Caldas, Tiradentes and Three Hearts".
The first road, manufactured by Royal Road Winery, three Hearts, can already be found in renowned restaurants of the capital of Minas Gerais, as the Taste Vin, Vecchio, pizzeria Sogno Olegario and Abel, as well as in some supermarkets. The product, made from the grape variety Syrah, comes in versions red and rosé.
The researcher of the Epamig observes, however, that the increased mining production of fine wines will depend on demand and acceptance of the product by part of the population. According to Murillo Albuquerque, financially compensate activity, since the price of a litre of new wines should rotate between $ 40.00 and $ 70.00.
"The fine wine market is expanding, but who else takes advantage of increased consumption are still imported wines, because the nationals face difficulties due to the high tax burden and competition with wines of MERCOSUR. So, invest in quality is the way to overcome the competition ", concludes the researcher.