More than 30 years ago, producing fine wines in Southeast Brazil seemed like an unlikely mission. Today, the reality is very different: labels produced in Minas Gerais and in the interior of São Paulo win international awards and drive an expanding market. Behind this transformation is the double pruning technique, developed in Minas Gerais and responsible for reversing the vine cycle so that the grapes are harvested during the winter. ????? 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 a wine store in Poços de Caldas, in the South of Minas, more than 1,200 labels from all continents are sold. Of these, 60 are winter wines produced in the region and also in cities in the interior of São Paulo. According to sellers, demand for these drinks has increased in recent years, driven mainly by the recognition achieved in national and international competitions. ? Revolution in Brazilian winemaking: the double pruning technique, created in Minas Gerais in the late 1990s, made it possible to reverse the vine cycle and harvest grapes in winter, a period considered ideal for the production of fine wines. ?? Grapes ripen in the most favorable season: with the reversal of the cycle, the grapes start to ripen between May and August, escaping the summer rains and taking advantage of sunny days and cold nights. ? Winter wines gain international recognition: labels produced with the technique accumulate awards in Brazil and abroad. One of the wines mentioned in the report achieved 92 points in specialized evaluations. Read also: Passion for the drink boosts sales, tourism and home cellar projects 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 Devanir Gino/Claudemir Camilo/EPTV The technique that made this possible was created by the agronomist and businessman Murilo de Albuquerque Regina, considered the father of double pruning. In 1998, when he was a researcher at the Agricultural Research Company of Minas Gerais (Epamig), he developed a method to change the production cycle of vines. "Where fine wine is made in every region of the world, the climate during the maturation and harvest period is exactly the same as the climate in my country. I had this idea. We need to change the grape cycle and put the grapes to ripen between May and August and not between December and February, which is the rainy season", explained Murilo. According to him, the vines grown in Brazil originated from genetic material brought from other countries and adapted to Brazilian territory over time. "Brazil is not a region that has vines in its origins. All the vines grown here came from abroad and were adapted more for cultural reasons. Brazil started making wine in the Brazilian Southeast, in São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul", he said. ??? Technique was created by a researcher from Minas Gerais: agronomist Murilo Regina, then a researcher at Epamig, developed double pruning in 1998 and is considered the "father" of winter wines. ? Superior quality of grapes: grapes produced in the inverted cycle have more sugar, a higher concentration of tannins and better maturation, essential characteristics for high quality wines. ? Expansion across the country: the technique began to be tested in the South of Minas and, from 2009, expanded to other regions of Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Central-West and Northeast. Technique developed in MG allows harvesting of grapes in winter and boosts award-winning wines Devanir Gino/Claudemir Camilo/EPTV The first double pruning tests were carried out in the early 2000s, on a property in Três Corações, in the south of Minas. In 2003, the first harvest took place with results considered excellent. The grapes were reduced in size, with a higher concentration of sugar and tannins, important characteristics for the production of quality wines. “We managed to reverse the plant cycle and make quality wine”, recalled Murilo. From 2009 onwards, commercial cultivation expanded rapidly to different regions of Minas Gerais and also to São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, as well as areas of the Central-West and Northeast. Currently, more than 500 hectares of vines use the double pruning technique, according to the National Association of Winter Wine Producers. The history of the consolidation of winter wines also involves the work of oenologist and viticulturist Isabela Peregrino, Murilo Regina's study partner and responsible for developing the processes for producing wines and sparkling wines produced with the technique. "You make a bad wine with a good grape if you don't have control over the process. But you don't make a good wine with a bad grape. The main point is that the grape is good," he said. ? More than 500 hectares use double pruning: according to the National Association of Winter Wine Producers, the technique is already applied to more than 500 hectares of vines in Brazil. ??? Three pillars of quality: according to winemaker Isabela Peregrino, double pruning favors the three fundamental factors for quality grapes: dry weather, sunny days and cold nights. ?? Grapes and coffee share space on farms: on properties in the South of Minas, the cultivation of winter grapes has proven to be a complementary alternative to coffee growing, taking advantage of seed production cycles