'Wine Letters': group has tasted more than 1,600 wines in 23 years of meetings The history of wine production in Brazil goes through trails, immigration and adaptation to the territory. After the first unsuccessful attempts at growing grapes in Baixada Santista, still in the 16th century, viticulture only gained strength between the 19th and 20th centuries, when Portuguese, Italian and Spanish immigrants advanced into the interior of São Paulo, driven by the expansion of the railways. ????? During this week, EPTV Sul de Minas, a Rede Globo Affiliate, airs the special series "Cartas de Vinho", which shows how the legacy of the immigrants who brought the first grape seedlings influences current winemaking. The production highlights the revolution in double pruning, a technique that made harvesting possible in winter and boosted the production of high-quality wines. The series also portrays how the producers' pioneering spirit helped to consolidate Minas Gerais and São Paulo as important wine and wine tourism hubs. ? Follow the g1 Sul de Minas page on Instagram The first commercial productions were concentrated in the regions of Jundiaí and São Roque, where the first barrels of wine produced in the country began to be sold. At the time, Vinhedo was still part of Jundiaí and was known as the Rocinha Peace District. With a strong influence from Italian immigration, grape culture was consolidated and led to the first Grape Festival, in 1948. "Vinhedo started with coffee plantations, still in the district of Rocinha, and then with the arrival of Italian migrants, this part of rural production was changed to grape plantations. So much so that this symbol is represented on the municipality's flag with our vine. So, Vinhedo made this change, this transition from coffee plantations to grape plantations and Then progress continued. Today, in addition to grape plantations, we also produce local wines”, explained the Secretary of Tourism of Vinhedo, Renato Romanetto. ? The wine tradition in Brazil began with Portuguese immigrants, but the first attempts to cultivate grapes, in Baixada Santista, in the 16th century, were unsuccessful. ? The expansion of railways took Portuguese, Italians and Spaniards to the interior of São Paulo, boosting commercial wine production between the 19th and 20th centuries. ? Jundiaí and São Roque became the first centers of national viticulture, with the production and sale of the first barrels of wine in the country. Read also: Passion for the drink boosts sales, tourism and wine cellar projects at home in MG and SP Find out how the grape route boosted the centuries-old wine tradition in MG and SP Devanir Gino/Claudemir Camilo/EPTV As the train advanced inland, the immigrants also spread out. Grape cultivation went beyond the borders of São Paulo and became stronger between São Paulo and Minas Gerais. In this context, Andradas has consolidated itself as one of the main centers in the sector and received, in 2025, the title of wine capital of Minas Gerais. Historical documents help to portray the importance of the activity in the city. A 1955 magazine records advertisements for local wineries. Other publications highlight the trajectory of José Francisco de Oliveira, considered a pioneer of grape cultivation in the region. There are also records of the participation of the then governor Juscelino Kubitschek in a Grape Festival, with the presentation of a trophy during the event. “So much so that there is data that there were around 70 wineries here in production until the 1960s and 1970s. So this generates a big business”, stated historian Ricardo Luiz de Souza. One of the properties that preserve this tradition has 124 years of history. The Basso family farm keeps documents from the arrival of the first members of the family to Brazil. The passport used for immigration bears the stamp of November 20, 1888. ? Vinhedo, then a district of Jundiaí, had a strong Italian influence, which helped to consolidate grape culture and led to the first Grape Festival, in 1948. ???? The city gradually exchanged coffee plantations for vineyards, a transformation that became a symbol of local identity and is even represented on the municipality's flag. ? With the advance of immigrants towards the interior, grape plantations spread between São Paulo and Minas Gerais, strengthening the activity in several cities. Find out how the grape route boosted the centuries-old tradition of wine in MG and SP Devanir Gino/Claudemir Camilo/EPTV "When they got off the ship, they were destined for the city here of São João da Boa Vista, which is a neighboring city of ours. From 1898, they stayed in São João for about 10 years and began to discover the neighboring city of Andradas. Because São João da Boa Vista is also a mountainous city, but it doesn't have the same topography as it does Andradas. And the topography of Andradas bore a certain similarity to where they came from Italy”, said winemaker Rogério Basso. The property also stores equipment used over the decades, such as barrels, presses, vats and hand pumps used to transfer wine between containers. At the top of the warehouse, the first bottle produced by the winery remains preserved, in 1967. "In the beginning, they were sold in 100-liter barrels of wine in bulk. The 100-liter bulk was all for São Paulo. So, they carried the wine carts in the past, five or six of these 100-liter barrels could fit, it was pulled by animal traction, they took them from Andradas to the city of Pinhal, Espírito Santo do Pinhal, State from São Paulo, they would get on the train and go to São Paulo for distribution. In São Paulo, they would bottle it, put their name there and this wine would be distributed there”, reported Basso. ? Andradas received the title of wine capital of Minas Gerais in 2025, reinforcing the city's historical importance for the sector. ? Historical records show the strength of viticulture in Andradas, including winery advertisements in magazines from the 1950s and reports