Overview and perspectives in wine production in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract

Recently, wine production, especially the production of fine wines, has grown in quantity and quality in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The above has occurred due to the application of innovation and management techniques, comprising double or inverted pruning. Current paper makes an overview of the wine sector in Minas Gerais and highlights its main characteristics, products and services offered, distribution channels and specificities of wine production. Twelve exploratory case studies were developed in wineries in the southern region of Minas Gerais and in the Jequitinhonha Valley (Diamantina), with on-site visits and semi-structured interviews with those responsible for the wine production of the wineries surveyed. Results reveal that there are significant differences between the two regions with regard to the type of wine produced and the wine marketed. Wine production of south Minas Gerais is also primarily characterized by the family, particularly more than 100-year old wineries. Further, production and sales of these wineries comes from table wine, which is the most widespread type of wine in Brazil, with target consumers seeking a product with a more affordable price. On the other hand, in Diamantina, all production consists of fine wine and attends to a consumer with greater purchasing power and a differentiated product.