Located at the northeastern region in Brazil, the São Francisco Valley has recently drawn a great deal of attention from the world wine industry, due to its successful activities regarding the unthinkable latitude and weather conditions for wine business. This single case study investigates the challenges, pitfalls, and the success of the São Francisco Valley economic acitivites, such as the transposition of the São Francisco river infrastructure project, here highlighted as a Brazilian development model for the northeast agriculture. Usually, winemakers are concentrated in the north and south temperate zones (latitudes of 34° to 45°N, and 31°a 38° S, respectively). The São Francisco Valley is located between Pernambuco and Bahia States, in a semiarid climate (caatinga), at 8o S latitude. Against all odds, the São Francisco Valley was responsible for 95 % of the table grapes exported from Brazil in 2015, with a production of 7 million liters of still wine (70% or 2,8 million liters, sparkling wines), within 700 hectares of cultivated area. It is also responsible for 15% of the Brazilian still wine production. with the incredible milestone of five crops produced each two years. The principal grape varieties cultivated are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Alicante Bouschet, Tannat, Touriga Nacional, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc (vitis vinifera), among others, generating over 30,000 direct and indirect jobs since 2002.
Keywords: Brazil, São Francisco Valley, Wine business
