Host 2025 - Bento Gonçalves
Capital of Brazilian Wine
Located on the Upper Northeastern Slope of Rio Grande do Sul, 124 kilometers from the capital Porto Alegre.
The city has a very rugged terrain, characterized by cliffs and valleys and a rich hydrographic network, and is crossed by several streams. The main river is the Rio das Antas.
Its population is estimated at 127,775 inhabitants
Land area (IBGE): 272.287 km²
Altitude: 690 m
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About the host region
Brazilian Capital of Wine’
Bento Gonçalves stands out on the national scene for the title of ‘Brazilian Capital of Wine’. It is a pioneer in wine production in Brazil and in the development of wine .tourism. The Serra Gaúcha is the largest and most important wine region in Brazil, accounting for a large part of the national wine production. There are more than 600 wineries in the region.
The two main products of Bento Gonçalves wineries in the domestic market are grape juice and wine. The third is sparkling wine. At a national level, in 2023, 66.3 million liters of juice and 25.6 million liters of wine were sold. The three main products – juices, wines and sparkling wines – represent a volume of 101 million liters (2018) and 92% of the volume sold (Socioeconomic Panorama – CIC BG/2019).
Vale dos Vinhedos
Vale dos Vinhedos is the main wine tourism destination in Brazil. It has also been the most visited tourist route in Bento Gonçalves since 2008. Vale dos Vinhedos is a pioneer in Brazil in the search for certification rules after the advent of Geographical Indications of Wines. It was the first producing region to obtain an Indication of Origin – IP (2002) and also to obtain a Denomination of Origin – DO (2012). The Vale dos Vinhedos region covers an area of 72.45 square kilometers between the cities of Bento Gonçalves, Garibaldi and Monte Belo do Sul. Vale dos Vinhedos has been officially part of the historical and cultural heritage of the State of Rio Grande do Sul since June 29, 2012 (Law 44/2012).
Città del Vino
Bento Gonçalves became a member of the ‘Città del Vino’ Association in September 2018. The association brings together wine-producing cities in Europe to discuss public policies and projects that benefit the culture and economy of wine. Its members include around 480 communities, producers responsible for 80% of Italian vineyards with certification of origin. The associated cities follow a quality standard established in the statute of the Quality Charter of Wine Cities, whose principles include, among others, protecting wine and its landscape. The Competition will have its tastings held at the Hotel, resort, spa and undisputed icon of Vale dos Vinhedos, the SPA do VINHO is a wine complex that elegantly pays homage to the world of wine.
In addition to wine, Rio Grande do Sul is renowned for its production of spirits, especially Cachaça, with major international brands. Cachaça is produced in several stills, with processes that vary from distillation in copper stills to the use of wood-fired ovens. Rio Grande do Sul is the largest national producer of Grapp .
Join the competition
Registering online is the easiest way to enter your wines. Our team will guide you through the registration process.