At the top of Serra Gaucha, 120 km from Porto Alegre, Bento Gonçalves It has around 120.000 residents and receives more than one million visitors a year. The city has transformed the memory of Italian immigrants into one of the most recognized wine tourism destinations in Latin America.
Italian colonization began in 1875, when the first immigrants arrived in what was then the village of Dona Isabel, now Bento Gonçalves. They brought grapevine cuttings and a crop that is still present in the area. Venetian dialect spoken of in wineries, fairs, and rural communities.
The Vale dos Vinhedos (Valley of the Vineyards) covers 72,45 km², divided among three municipalities. Bento Gonçalves accounts for 55% of the area, Garibaldi for 37%, and Monte Belo do Sul for the remaining 8%.
The numbers explain the region's fame. In the Vale dos Vinhedos alone, there are 34 wineries, while the city itself has 74 properties linked to the wine industry, according to the Rio Grande do Sul State Department of Culture.
Recognition both domestically and internationally.
O Valley of the Vineyards It was the first area in Brazil to receive a Geographical Indication from the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) in 2002, and the first to obtain the Designation of Origin for wines in the country, in 2012, according to Embrapa.
Recognition also extended internationally. In 2007, the European Community included the Vale dos Vinhedos (Valley of the Vineyards) on its list of third countries with a Geographical Indication for wines. Since 2018, the city has been a member of the Italian association. City of Wine, which brings together around 480 wine-producing communities in different countries.
In November 2019, Bento Gonçalves received the Most Admired Knowledge City Award during the 12th Knowledge Cities World Summitin Florianópolis, as the only Brazilian in the category Emerging Knowledge City, alongside Barcelona, Vancouver and San Juan.
What to see in the wine capital
The itinerary blends wine tourism, rural landscapes, and historical heritage. The Vale dos Vinhedos (Valley of the Vineyards) is home to wineries such as Miolo, Casa Valduga, and Pizzato. The Caminhos de Pedra (Stone Paths) preserve houses built by immigrants in the 1870s, and the Maria Fumaça steam train travels 23 km connecting Bento Gonçalves, Garibaldi, and Carlos Barbosa.
On the table, you'll find galeto al primo canto (grilled chicken), polenta with chicken sauce, and fresh pasta such as tortellini and cappelletti. The region is the main producer of sparkling wines in Brazil, with labels reaching the United States, England, and China.
