'Double pruning': technique created in the south of Minas Gerais boosted wine production in Brazil Wine is no longer just a product but has also become a tourist experience. In wineries in the interior of São Paulo and the south of Minas Gerais, wine tourism has gained strength by combining tastings, guided tours, gastronomy and even accommodation in the middle of the vineyards, attracting visitors from different regions of the country and helping to boost business in the sector. ????? 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 In Espírito Santo do Pinhal (SP), one of the bets to attract tourists is a wine bar installed inside a winery. The space welcomes visitors from different states, interested in learning more about wine production and participating in tasting experiences. ? Wine tourism has become an important source of income for wineries, combining tastings, tours, gastronomy and accommodation to attract visitors. ? According to the World Tourism Organization, around two-thirds of wineries consider wine tourism profitable or very profitable, and the activity represents approximately 25% of the enterprises' revenue. ?? ? In Brazil, 8 out of 10 wineries already use wine tourism to increase revenue, according to a survey by Sebrae. Read also: Passion for the drink boosts sales, tourism and wine cellar projects at home in MG and SP From the interior of São Paulo to the South of Minas, find out how the grape route boosted centuries-old tradition Technique developed in MG allows harvesting of grapes in winter and boosts award-winning wines Wine tourism boosts wineries and attracts visitors to experiences that go beyond tasting in SP and the South of Minas Devanir Gino/Claudemir Camilo/EPTV For the winery's co-owner, André Luciano Martins, wine tourism is essential for the growth of activity in the region. "The growth of wine tourism here is a fundamental part of the development of the more than 100 wineries that we have within a radius of 100 kilometers. Because without wine tourism I cannot promote and I cannot sustain this new modality that is here in the interior of São Paulo, especially the wineries, the accommodation part, the gastronomy part. So wine tourism raises all of this." It was precisely the experience that caught the attention of professor Luciana Barbosa Reis, from Rio de Janeiro. During the visit, she had contact with tasting techniques and learned to identify aromas present in wines. "This experience is helping me to get to know these aromas better. I found the production itself very careful, so it is, for me, important. When I taste it, I can identify these aromas and the whole experience gets better." ??? In Espírito Santo do Pinhal (SP), a winery is investing in a wine bar to attract tourists and bring them closer to wine culture. ?? ? The space receives visitors from different regions of the country, including São Paulo, Campinas, Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro and Brasília. ?? Tourists have the opportunity to learn about aromas, flavors and wine production processes, enriching the tasting experience. Wine tourism boosts wineries and attracts visitors to experiences that go beyond tasting in SP and the South of Minas Devanir Gino/Claudemir Camilo/EPTV According to André Luciano Martins, the public serves a very diverse profile. According to a study by the World Tourism Organization, around two thirds of the wineries surveyed consider wine tourism to be a profitable or very profitable activity. The practice represents approximately 25% of the revenue of these enterprises. In Brazil, a survey by Sebrae shows that eight in ten wineries use tourism as a strategy to increase revenue. In Itobi (SP), a farm with five decades of history found a new business opportunity in wine. began two years later. Over time, the property began to offer tours and activities aimed at visitors. For owner Márcio Verrone, direct contact between consumers and producers strengthens the brand and boosts sales. "For the winery, wine tourism is essential, because you will bring people to see your home and they will get to know your product and take your product away. So she is involved within your concept. And this is important for people who are working with wine. This is fundamental." ?? In Itobi (SP), a farm with 50 years of history started producing wines from 2010 and expanded its activities with tours and tourist experiences. ?? For producers, receiving visitors is a way of presenting the brand, strengthening the relationship with consumers and boosting sales. ?? In São Gonçalo do Sapucaí (MG), a farm that previously produced milk and Grains began producing wine in 2015 and became a reference in tourism linked to the sector. Wine tourism boosts wineries and attracts visitors to experiences that go beyond tasting in SP and in the South of Minas Devanir Gino/Claudemir Camilo/EPTV Winter wines attract tourists to the South of Minas In São Gonçalo do Sapucaí (MG), in Serra da Mantiqueira, wine production began in 2015 on a farm that was previously dedicated to dairy farming and farming.