Wine atlas · BR · Vale dos Vinhedos
DNA 99 2020
Pizzato Vinhas e Vinhos · 50 US label registrations
Curated vintage entry based on producer material.
01 · Profile in the glass
Single-site Brazilian Merlot
An editorial reading based on style, grapes, and sources — not a tasting note for this bottle.
- Color
- Dark ruby.
- Palate
- Round texture, moderate tannin, and plum fruit; the charm is detail, not brute force.
- Finish
- Medium-long, supple, dry finish.
Aromatic families
- red plum
- cherry
- cocoa
- dried herb
- damp earth
02 · The terroir shaping the wine
Vale dos Vinhedos
Reading Merlot in Vale dos Vinhedos means considering weathered basalt soils, slopes, and vintage selection in a materially rainy climate.
- Soil
- Weathered basalt, clay, and organic matter
- Altitude
- 450–760 m
- Annual rainfall
- 1730 mm
- Heat summation
- Not catalogued
- Aspect
- Varied slopes
- Harvest
- January to March
- Appellation
- DO · BR402012000002-0
03 · From landscape to flavor
From landscape to flavor
Every relationship displays its evidence grade and source; contested links remain visibly contested.
Greater heat accumulation tends to support Ripe fruit
Within the limits of variety and management, more heat can accelerate ripening and shift fruit profile.
Influence of Climate, Soil, and Cultivar on TerroirHarvest timing tends to support Freshness
Harvest date changes the observable combination of sugar, acidity, and aromatic maturity.
Standards and technical documents: viticultureCluster sunlight exposure tends to support Color
Exposure changes ripening and pigmentation processes, with effects depending on variety and intensity.
Standards and technical documents: viticultureOak contact tends to support Vanilla
Wood-derived compounds can contribute aromas associated with vanilla.
Oak influence in wineModerate water deficit tends to support Concentration
Reduced berry growth may accompany a higher skin-to-pulp ratio, but the effect depends on timing and intensity.
Influence of Climate, Soil, and Cultivar on TerroirOld vines tends to support Concentration
Vine age is often associated with concentration, but site selection, yield, and management confound attribution.
Standards and technical documents: viticultureLarge diurnal temperature range tends to support Freshness
Diurnal range is often used to explain freshness, but averages, extremes, and available water also matter.
Influence of Climate, Soil, and Cultivar on TerroirSite dominates cultivar tends to support Structure
Terroir studies show interaction among climate, soil, and cultivar, not a fixed hierarchy in every context.
Influence of Climate, Soil, and Cultivar on Terroir04 · How to read this bottle
How to read this bottle
Bordeaux bottle
Bottle anatomy
Drag to rotate; pinch or use Ctrl + mouse wheel to zoom. The points open notes about the shape.
Drag to rotate; pinch or use Ctrl + mouse wheel to zoom. The points open notes about the shape.
This device is using the static edition. The label and every annotation remain accessible.
05 · How it is made
How it is made
As a parcel wine, the central decision is preserving Merlot character without turning oak into the protagonist.
06 · Why it matters
Why it matters
The wine helps explain why Merlot became a reference for fine reds from Serra Gaúcha.
07 · Serving and table
Serving and table
- Temperature
- 16–18 °C
- Decanting
- 30 minutes if young.
- Glass
- Medium Bordeaux glass.
Pairings
- roast chicken
- polenta with mushrooms
- grilled pork
- semi-aged cheese
08 · Points to remember
Points to remember
- Merlot is the central grape in this profile.
- The page should be read as a parcel study, not a whole-country claim.
- Basalt and rainfall shape farming choices.