Casa Valduga Is a Sparkling Example of Brazilian Winemaking

Now we know. Brazil has fantastic sparkling wine. My daughter brought back a bottle of 2022 Casa Valduga Brut from a recent visit to Brazil, presenting the opportunity for my first taste of Brazilian bubbly.

In 1875, the first immigrant from the Valduga family arrived in Brazil. Coming from the city of Rovereto, in northern Italy, they settled in what is now known as the Vale dos Vinhedos. They cultivated the first vineyards there, thus beginning the legacy of a four-generation winery.

Vale dos Vinhedos, located in the Serra Gaúcha region of southern Brazil, has more than 30 wineries, ranging from small farms to world-class estates. The region is responsible for 85% of the country’s wine. Vale dos Vinhedos is Brazil’s first and only DO.

The surrounding valleys and mountains are covered in vineyards. The main city is Bento Gonçalves, known as the Brazilian Wine Capital. It is where Casa Valduga, known for its award-winning sparkling wine and luxury, is located.

Wines mature in the winery’s underground sparkling wine cellar, which has a capacity of six million bottles and is the largest in Latin America. Today their wines can be found in 20 countries on five continents. Two labels have received international recognition, the iconic Brut 130 and Maria Valduga, considered the crown jewel of the Valduga sparkling program. It ages for five years in the underground cellar.

Our wine is part of the Arte Tradicional line. It is a 60/40 per cent blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

We popped the cork (which must have soared 20 feet in the air) and served it with a vegan dessert of  Panna Cotta with honeyed peach and strawberries.

This is an impressive bottle. The tropical notes blended nicely with the dessert’s fruit topping. There were also flavors of brioche in the straw-yellow wine. The bubbles are beyond persistent, with steady streams in the glass even after 15 minutes. The wine is made in the traditional method and is aged 12 months on the lees.

This was our first taste of wine from Brazil. We loved this bottle and are on the hunt for more Brazilian wine.

Imaged Credit belongs to David Nershi, Glass of Bubbly was granted permission to use the image.