Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
9
TOURING THE VALE DOS VINHEDOS
The main wine route from Bento Gonçalves follows the BR-470 highway, then the RS-444, a
county road dubbed the
Estrada da Vinho
(any southbound bus from Bento Gonçalves
will drop you off at the intersection). About 400m along the road (at the petrol station)
you'll find an excellent
information centre
(daily 9am-6pm;
T
54 3451 9601,
W
valedosvinhedos.com.br) where you can pick up a map indicating wineries and other
local businesses open to visitors. You can make a loop by heading back to Bento on a
smaller road, the Via Trento - everything is well signposted. The
wineries
vary enormously
in character and it's wise to settle on just a few to stop off for tastings - the best time to
visit is January through to March when the grapes are harvested, but visitors are welcomed
throughout the year for tastings.
Casa Valduga
Via Trento (Linha Leopoldina) 2355
T
Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm.
Pizzato Vinhas e Vinhos
Via dos Parreirais
T
54
3459 1155,
W
pizzato.net.
Still very much a family
concern, with a pleasant restaurant on-site, and tours
held throughout the year (free).
Daily 10am-6pm.
Vinhos Larentis
Linha da Leopoldina, Km 6
T
54
3453 6469,
W
larentis.com.br.
An up-and-coming
producer of fine wines (the Malbec is exceptional),
matured in American oak barrels; treat yourself to a
bottle from the shop.
Daily 9am-5pm.
Vinícola Miolo
RS-444 (Estrada da Vinho), Km 21
T
54 2105 3122,
W
casavalduga.com.br.
The first
producer to introduce modern wine-making
techniques and European vines. Tour and tastings
R$20. Also has accommodation on-site (see opposite).
Daily 9.15am-6pm; restaurant Tues-Sun noon-
3pm & 8-9pm.
★
Famiglia Tasca
Linha Santo Isidoro, Monte Belo
do Sul
T
54 3453 2210,
W
famigliatasca.com
.br.
This small family wine and grape juice producer
with a shop should not be missed: located on a side
road in the extreme west of the Vale dos Vinhedos, the
well-maintained wood and stone farm buildings are
some of the oldest in the area (they even have a small
museum), and the views across the neighbouring
Aurora valley are breathtaking.
Mon-Fri noon-6pm,
54 2102 1500,
W
miolo.com.br.
Probably the best of
Brazil's large-scale producers. Tours and tastings R$15
(every 30min).
Tours and tastings: Mon-Sat
8.30am-5pm, Sun 9.30am-4pm; shop: Mon-Fri
8am-6pm, Sat 8.30am-6pm, Sun 9am-5pm.
Founded in 1875, the town itself is an undistinguished-looking place today,
whose economy, of course, totally revolves around grape and wine production,
and it's the obvious base for a tour of the local wineries. There are numerous
cantinas
in the centre of town offering free tours and tastings while the
Museu
Casa do Imigrante
, at Rua Erny Hugo Dreher 127, was undergoing a major
restoration at the time of writing - if it's still closed you can admire the poignant
(and life-size)
Monumento aos Imigrantes
statue on Praça Achyles Mincarone. The
kitsch, theme-park-like
Epopéia Italiana Parque Temático
is best avoided, especially
if you've been to Italy.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE BENTO GONÇALVES
To make the most of this area you'll need a
car
, or to take a
tour
. Bento Gonçalves is easy to reach by bus, but getting
around the area is not easy without transport. You'll get the best deal on car rentals back in
Porto Alegre
, especially at
the airport.
By bus
Bento Gonçalves bus station is 1km north of the
centre of town, at Gomes Carneiro 19. Hourly buses run to
and from Porto Alegre (2.5hr), but for Gramado, Canela and
Cambará do Sul you'll need to change in the city of Caxias
do Sul (hourly; 1hr 15min). Moving on, Unesul (
W
www
.unesul.com.br) has 3 daily buses (7hr; R$89.10) to Sant
Ângelo (for the Rota Missões).
INFORMATION AND TOURS
Tours
Try Vale das Vinhas, Rua Barão do Rio Branco
245,
Tourist information
Rua Marechal Deodoro 70
(Mon-Fri 8-11.45am & 1-7pm, Sat 9am-5pm;
T
54 3451 1088). See also
W
valedosvinhedos.com.br.
Bento
Gonçalves
(
T
54
3451
4216,
W
valedasvinhastur.com.br),
or
Giordani
Turismo
(
W
giordaniturismo.com.br).
