Brazil's most prestigious wine appellation, nestled in the highland valleys of Rio Grande do Sul state, colonised by Italian immigrants who brought vine cuttings from Veneto and Trentino in the late 19th century. The Serra Gaúcha hills at 600–800m altitude provide cooling relief from Brazil's subtropical heat, enabling cool-climate varieties — particularly Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Chardonnay — to produce wines of genuine quality. Vale dos Vinhedos was the first Brazilian GI (2002) and first to achieve DO status (2012), establishing a quality framework that has inspired the development of other Brazilian wine regions.
| Year | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | — | Good conditions in the highlands. Merlot and Chardonnay showed excellent character from the elevated sites. |
| 2021 | — | Outstanding vintage — cooler than average with good acid retention. Internationally competitive wines. |
| 2020 | — | Reliable vintage across the GI. Sparkling wine base wines of excellent freshness. |
| 2019 | — | One of the best recent vintages. Long, cool ripening produced wines of unexpected elegance. |
| 2018 | — | Good conditions with subtropical humidity managed well by altitude. Merlot of good concentration. |