Miolo, Aurora, Casa Valduga and Geisse are among the 16 wineries chosen blind by 109 winemakers from 558 samples
The Brazilian Association of Oenology (ABE) presented on Saturday, October 17, in Bento Gonçalves (RS), the wines chosen to represent the 2026 vintage at the 34th National Wine Evaluation. There were 16 samples from 16 wineries, tasted and discussed in front of an audience. They were drawn from 558 samples from 83 wineries in ten states and the Federal District, tasted blind by 109 winemakers in the selection stage, according to ABE.
The Evaluation is not a competition and awards no medals. The winemakers analyze wines still being made, in a technical tasting, to show what the vintage was like. Of the samples entered, 191, from 50 wineries, ranked among the 30% most representative of each category; the 16 of the night came from those. Each one was discussed by a guest, among them winemakers, journalists, sommeliers and executives.
Among the sparkling base wines were Casa Valduga, from Bento Gonçalves, and Geisse, from Pinto Bandeira, both with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Among the whites, the Chenin Blanc from Cooperativa Vinícola São João, of Farroupilha; the Chardonnay from Nova Aliança, of Flores da Cunha; the Sauvignon Blanc from Quinta da Neve, of São Joaquim (SC); and the Moscato Giallo from Giacomin, of Flores da Cunha. The rosé was a Cabernet Sauvignon from Cerro de Pedra, of Pinheiro Machado.
Among the young reds were the Pinot Noir from Cooperativa Vinícola Aurora and the Cabernet Sauvignon from Maison Forestier, of Garibaldi. Among the reds, the Marselan from Mioranza, of Flores da Cunha; the Rebo from Campestre, of Campestre da Serra; the Teroldego from Don Guerino, of Alto Feliz; the Cabernet Sauvignon from Miolo, of Bento Gonçalves; the Syrah, Marselan and Cabernet Franc blend from Villa Triacca, of Brasília (DF); and two Tannats, from Batalha, of Candiota, and from Larentis, of Bento Gonçalves.
ABE published each sample's median score in the selection stage. The highest was 93 points, for six wines: Casa Valduga, Quinta da Neve, Campestre, Don Guerino, Miolo and Villa Triacca. The lowest among the 16 was 90, for Aurora's Pinot Noir. Fourteen of the samples come from Rio Grande do Sul, one from Santa Catarina and one from the Federal District. The foreign commentators included winemakers from Italy, Chile and Uruguay and guests from Portugal and Georgia; the Chenin Blanc was discussed by journalist Daniela Ungaretti, and Casa Valduga's sparkling base by Fábio Góes, 2025 Winemaker of the Year.
The National Wine Evaluation has followed the evolution of Brazilian wine for more than three decades.Mário Lucas Ieggli, president of ABE
Sources: Brazilian Association of Oenology (October 18, 2026), Agrolink (September 10, 2026).
