although not famous for its wine production, brazil has a rich and long-standing history and tradition of wine cultivation and consumption and the quality of its produce is recognised to be improving substantially year by year.

brazil is the fifth largest producer of wine in the southern hemisphere, and has been producing and perfecting their grapes since the time of colonisation - martim afonso brought the first vines to brazil in 1532 and after a century of unsuccessful attempts at cultivation, the jesuits who arrived in 1626 enjoyed more success in the state of rio grande do sul.

in the early 18th century there was a great influx of portuguese immigrants to the southern states of the country, and they brought with them a number of seedlings for portuguese and madeiran wine - in 1808, when the country's crown was transferred from portugal to brazil, a ban on grape cultivation was overturned, and wine drinking became a key constituent of the brazilian meal, social gatherings and religious festivals.