Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fifth-largest in the world. Yet only a small proportion (about 10%) of the country is planted with vineyards. Brazil's best-known wines are its sparkling whites, many of which are made similar to Italian Spumante. In the 1970s and 1980s, Brazil began producing wines of true export quality including Chardonnay and Semillon white wines and Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot red wines.

Regions include:

  • Bahia - At just nine degrees south of the equator, the grapes grown in this tropical environment are rarely of fine-wine quality. But what they lack in quality they make up for in quantity; many vineyards here produce two annual vintages rather than one.  Grapes grown in this region include Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Muscat, and Grenache
    • Vale do Sao Francisco
  • Bento Goncalves - Sparkling white wines are prevalent here. Most are made in the style of Italian foaming spumante, rather than French Champagne.  Grape varieties include Moscato Bianco,  Barbera and Trebbiano along with French varieties such as Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Tannat.
  • Campanha - This region produces soft, fruit-driven reds and rustic, full-bodied whites are made from grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat and Chardonnay.
  • Rio Grande do Sul - Brazil's most prolific wine-producing region, located in the very south of the country.  This region makes soft, light red wines from Cabernet Sauvignon and Tannat and rich white wines from Chardonnay and Viognier. But, it is the fresh, fruit-driven sparkling wines made here in the Italian Spumante style that are most popular.
  • Santa Catarina - Far from the most obvious of locations for winegrowing, this region is entirely outside the 'wine belt' where viniculture is traditionally thought possible. Quality viniculture is still in its early stages but should develop as the nation continues to develop its wine industry.
  • Serra Gaucha - Grape varieties which first took off here were Italian Barbera and Trebbiano, although these have now largely been replaced by varietals of French origin including Chardonnay, Semillon, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.