South
Rio Grande do Sul
Gaucho culture, wine and churrasco
Rio Grande do Sul is Brazil's southernmost state, where the gaucho culture of cattle ranching, chimarrão (mate tea) and weekend churrasco defines daily life. The Serra Gaúcha highlands, colonized by Italian and German immigrants in the 19th century, produce Brazil's finest wines in towns like Bento Gonçalves and Garibaldi — and host the Brazilian Oktoberfest tradition in the mountain resort of Gramado.
Capital
Porto Alegre
Region
South
Estado
RS
Top Highlights
- 1Bento Gonçalves wine route — vineyard tastings through Italian immigrant valleys in the Serra Gaúcha
- 2Gramado and Canela — alpine-style mountain towns with European architecture and chocolate shops
- 3Aparados da Serra — Itaimbezinho canyon, one of Brazil's most spectacular gorges
- 4Gramado's Natal Luz — one of South America's most famous Christmas light festivals
Best Time to Visit
March to May for the autumn grape harvest; December for the Natal Luz Christmas festival in Gramado.
Traveller's Tip
Gramado's Natal Luz runs mid-November to early January and draws millions — book accommodation a year in advance.
Videos from Rio Grande do Sul
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