Country: Brazil Region: Serra Gaucha Varietal: Merlot Vintage: 2017 Colour: Red Style: Dry Producer: Cooperativa Vinicola Aurora Description: Aurora is a giant cooperative–Brazil’s biggest wine producer, commanding over 30% of the domestic market for still wine. It was originally founded in 1931 by 16 Italian immigrant families. At one time it had as many as 1300 members, but there are now 1100 with an average of 2.6 hectares of vineyards per member. Members get paid 8% more than government established minimums, and must follow an extensive rule book regarding everything from safety and pesticide use to harvest dates and yields. They have their own grape nursery for members, which propagates 30 varieties and three different rootstocks. The co-op also owns 16 hectares of prime vineyards in Pinto Bandeira, the source for some of their top wines. A team of 15 winemakers oversees the production of 45 million liters of wine per year. Less than 2% is exported, but that makes up 30% of Brazil’s wine exports.  It was briefly exported to the U.S. as “white Zinfandel” back in the early 1990s. They are now exporting to the U.S. under the Carnaval label wines that are known in Brazil as Procedencia, and producing some special bottlings for the U.S. and Irish market under the label Brazilian Soul. Ageing Potential: 4 Years Tasting Note: Grapes are picked and produced young, making the wine very fruity and tart. This tartness is cut by leaving some residual sugar in the wine, giving the wine a round, smooth mouth-feel and a slightly sweeter, more approachable flavor to the casual wine drinker. The finish is clean and dry - The end result is unique - a demi-sec varietal wine keeping the characteristics of varietal grapes  Food Matches: Roasted red meats, ripe cheese or also stands beautifully on its own