IDEAL CLIMATE"In our Serra Gaucha region, we have the ideal climate to produce a quality sparkling wine," expert Carlos Abarzua tells AFP. In recent years, sparkling Brazilian wines -- principally using Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Italian Riesling grapes -- have won dozens of international prizes. LOCALLY PRODUCEDIn the 2018 Catad'Or Wine Awards competition, the biggest in Latin America, the Moscatel from the Garibaldi cooperative was voted South America's best sparkling wine. But the vitality of Brazil's sparkling wine production could be threatened by a trade deal between the European Union and Mercosur, the South American economic and political bloc. If ratified, it could lead to an influx of lower-priced sparkling wine from abroad.

Source: Daily Nation December 23, 2019 16:41 UTC