This calm city in Rio Grande do Sul produces 85% of Brazil's wine, with Italian-influenced architecture and vineyards spread across its rolling hills and valleys.
In Bento Gonçalves, you can sip Chardonnay at century-old Salton Winery, watch copper artisans craft pots in stone workshops along Caminhos de Pedra, or join the grape harvest at Aurora Winery in February. This city in Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul state produces 90% of the country's wine across 1,000 wineries. Local families of Italian descent cook handmade agnolotti and canederli dumplings using techniques their ancestors brought from northern Italy in the 1870s.
Getting to Bento Gonçalves
Caxias do Sul Airport lies 41 kilometers away, while Porto Alegre International Airport is 121 kilometers south. Buses leave Porto Alegre's central station every two hours from 6:00 to 22:00. The journey takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes. At Bento Gonçalves's central bus station, you'll find luggage lockers, a café, and a tourist information desk.
Wine Tasting in Vale dos Vinhedos
Vale dos Vinhedos spans 82 square kilometers between Bento Gonçalves, Garibaldi, and Monte Belo do Sul. The 25 wineries in this region produce sparkling wines from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes. Aurora Winery started with 16 families in 1931 and has grown to include 1,100 member families producing 50 million liters annually. At Salton, established in 1878, you can tour both the original stone cellar and modern steel tank facilities. Most wineries open daily from 9:00 to 17:00, with guided tastings starting at R$50.
Exploring Local Culture
The Maria Fumaça steam train travels 23 kilometers through the countryside, stopping in Garibaldi and Carlos Barbosa. During the two-hour ride, local musicians perform Italian folk songs and regional gaucho dances. Along Caminhos de Pedra's 12-kilometer route, you can watch millers grind corn and wheat in a 19th-century stone mill, and see artisans making copper pots and wooden furniture in their original family workshops.
Climate and When to Visit
Winter (June-August) temperatures range from 8°C to 16°C, making it comfortable for wine tasting. Summer (December-February) sees temperatures between 25°C and 30°C with occasional afternoon rain. Visit from mid-January through February to participate in the grape harvest at wineries like Aurora and Salton.
Food Scene
The city's restaurants adapt northern Italian recipes to Brazilian ingredients. Try agnolotti filled with local beef, polenta topped with wild boar ragù, or canederli bread dumplings in clear broth. In Vale dos Vinhedos, family kitchens make pasta by hand and cure meats using recipes inherited from their Italian ancestors. Many restaurants pair their dishes with wines from neighboring vineyards.
