The grapes produced in the Brazilian
vineyards are either destined for processing
or fresh consumption. “However, a huge
portion that is supposed to be destined for
fresh consumption is frequently transformed
into table wine or juice, mainly grapes from
the following cultivars: White Niagara, Rosé
Niagara, Bordeaux and Isabel”, clarifies Loi-
va Maria Ribeiro de Mello, Researcher at Em-
brapa Grape and Wine, in Bento Gonçalves
(RS). Depending on such factors as the mar-
ket, structures and available resources, wine-
growers may direct big or small amounts of
grapes to fresh consumption. Therefore, the
proportion of grapes for processing varies
from one year to the next, without any fac-
tor interfering with production.
Loiva also notes that, if the quality of
the grapes is not good enough for the
fresh fruit market, there is always the al-
ternative to destine them for processing.
“This is exactly what some producers have
done”, she says. Of the total production of
1.499 million tons of grapes in 2015, some
781,412 tons were processed (wine, juice
and other derivatives) and 717,941 tons
were for fresh consumption. Of this to-
tal, 52.12% of the grapes were destined for
processing and 47.88% for fresh consump-
tion. The amount of grapes processed into
wine and juice went up 16.03% in 2015,
compared to the previous year.
Rio Grande do Sul (RS) accounts for
about 90% of all grapes processed in Brazil.
“The increase in the production of grapes
in the State reminds us of the Italian immi-
grants. When the first of them arrived in the
State, they brought with them grape vines
and a culture strongly linked to the bever-
age”, recalls enologist Dirceu Scottá, presi-
dent of the BrazilianWine Institute (Ibravin),
also based in Bento Gonçalves.
In 2015, the wineries in Rio Grande
do Sul processed 702.9 thousand tons
of grapes, of which, 632.5 thousand tons
were American grapes and hybrids (used
for the production of table wine, juice
and other derivatives), according to num-
bers released by Ibravin. The institute esti-
mates at 301.7 thousand tons the volume
of grapes processed in the State in 2016,
down 57% from the amount of the previ-
ous year. Of this total, 271.5 thousand tons
were American varieties and hybrids, and
30.2 thousand tons of vinifera grapes.
Loiva has it that, on the grounds of this
result, it is possible to anticipate what the
market holds in store for 2016. “The con-
siderable drop in the production of grapes
in the 2015/16 growing season is likely
to push prices up, mainly because there
is little confidence in the economic re-
covery of the Country, prices fetched by
the raw material and smaller supply of
grapes”, she analyzes. She also notes that,
although the past crop was small, with the
existing stocks, especially fine wines, there
will be no shortages of wine in 2016, but
there may be supply problems in 2017,
should climate conditions continue unfa-
vorable, jeopardizing the next crop, the
2016/17 growing season, as the present
stocks will drop considerably.
LIQUID STATE
The production of wines, juices and de-
rivatives in Rio Grande do Sul amounted to
244.92 million liters in 2016, performance
down 57.99% from the previous year, accord-
ing to the figures collected by researcher Loi-
va Maria Ribeiro de Mello. In volume, the
amount reached 75.279 million liters of table
wine (red, white and rosé), made fromAmeri-
can and hybrid grapes. The result was 58.96%
lower than in 2015, a decrease of 55.67% in
red wines, 72.88% in white wine and 66.73%
in roséwine, made fromVitis vinifera L.grapes,
amounting to a total of 18.070 million liters,
representing a reduction of 51.36%, with red
wines suffering a decrease of 47.6%; white
wines, 55.5%; and rosé wines, 29.77%.
Grape juices totaled 86.58 million liters,
down 62.44% from the volume produced in
2015. The biggest reduction, 68.89%, was in
juice concentrates, and remained at 40.43%
for whole beverage. The production of grape
juice, which can be used for the production
of wine, juice and other grape based prod-
ucts, also suffered a reduction (50.68%). The
other derivatives, that include the bases for
the production of sparkling wines and oth-
er products, resulted into 4.179 million li-
ters, outstripping the 4.106 million liters reg-
istered in 2015.
17
BEBIDAS/ PRONTO PARA BEBER
Beverages/Ready to drink
Produção de vinhos, sucos e derivados do Rio Grande do Sul, em litros
* Transformados em litros de suco simples. ** Inclui base para espumantes, licorosos, polpa de uvas e outros.
Elaboração:
Loiva Mello – Embrapa Uva e Vinho
Fontes:
União Brasileira de Vitivinicultura (Uvibra) e Instituto Brasileiro do Vinho (Ibravin).
Produção
2013
2014
2015
2016
Vinho de mesa
(tinto, branco, rosado)
196.904.222 196.173.123 210.308.560 86.319.015
Vinho fino
(tinto, branco, rosado)
46.956.931 38.464.314 37.148.982 18.070.626
Suco de uva integral
33.673.396 43.331.223 52.233.155 31.117.869
Suco concentrado*
156.031.970 166.961.570 178.306.565 55.462.600
Mosto simples
58.517.506 57.585.195 100.911.592 49.770.993
Outros derivados**
2.9090.520 2.801.715 4.106.899 4.179.323
TOTAL
494.993.545 505.317.140 583.015.753 244.920.424
DOIS DESTINOS
Two destinations
Produção de uvas para processamento e para consumo
in natura
,
no Brasil em toneladas
Fonte:
Processamento oficial do RS e estimativa dos demais estados do Brasil –
Elaboração:
Loiva Mello/Embrapa Uva e Vinho
Ano
2013
2014
2015
Processamento
679.793 673.422 781.412
Consumo
in natura
733.061 762.652 717.941
Total
1.412.854 1.436.074 1.499.353
