A reduction in the grape harvest in Rio Grande do Sul a state which accounts for 90% of Brazilian wine production, prompted a strategic shift: 45% of all grapes harvested would be used to make grape juice.
Grapes harvested this year in Rio Grande do Sul, a state that accounts for 90% of all Brazilian wine production, totaled 533.26 million kilos, 15.9% lower than the 2008 vintage, when 634.04 million kilos of grapes were harvested. The data was collected by the Brazilian Wine Institute (Ibravin) along with the Registry of Winemakers kept in partnership with the State Department of Agriculture, Farming, Fishing and Agribusiness and the Ministry of Agriculture, Farming and Supply. The production of common grapes was reduced by 16.2%; viniferous grapes decreased less, 13.9%.

The fall in production was expected due to the climate conditions during the budding and blooming period, when there was a large excess of rain. According to the original estimate the fall was supposed to be approximately 20% higher, said the CEO of Ibravin, Carlos Raimundo Paviani. “Although it may be bad for some grape growers, who had significant loss in their production in some regions, for the wine market poorer harvest might be an encouragement”, points out Paviani, adding that “lower quantity of grapes and, consequently, of wine, is likely to support the sector balance, which today has stocks of more than 300 million liters.

Grape juice on the rise
A new feature of this vintage is the earmarking of 45% of common variety grapes for grape juice production. In previous years, it amounted to 30% on average. “This is due to the growing acceptance of consumers of grape juice, especially natural and whole juice, with no added water and sugar”, says Paviani. According to him, the grape juice market has grown 15 to 20% a year on average, and natural juice has increased even more, approximately 40%. “All current production has been sold, which encourages companies to invest in this market”.

The new zero tolerance policy for drivers under the influence of alcohol, recently passed into law in Brazil
Over the last years, the commercialization of grapes has doubled, reaching a growth of 117%. The new zero tolerance policy for drivers under the influence of alcohol, recently passed into law in Brazil, which forced drivers to find an alternative to wine and alcoholic drinks, and the promotion of the benefits of drinking natural/concentrated grape juice indicates that the market will grow continuously.

Natural/concentrated grape juice production in Rio Grande do Sul totaled 18.3 million liters in 2008. This volume represents 33% more than the 2007 production, which amounted to 13.7 million liters. “Probably the consumption growth was not higher because of the quantity produced”, says Paviani. In 2001 and 2002, production totaled 2.8 million liters. In 2003, 3.5 million liters. In 2004, 4 million liters; 2005, 6 million liters; and 2006, 8.6 million liters of natural/whole grape juice.

Viniferous grapes

The production of viniferous grapes to make high quality wines, reached 72 million kilos. Of which, 54.82% are red grapes; 44.89% white; and 0.29% rose. A great deal of the production of viniferous grapes (76.9%) were used by wineries to make wines and fine wine and derivatives; 13.8% for wines and common wines and derivatives and 9.3% for juice and must.