EN 
PT_BR 
The diversity and advancement of Brazilian viticulture are the focus of the 34th National Wine Evaluation – 2026 Vintage. Official figures from this edition demonstrate the scale of national production: 569 samples were submitted by 84 wineries from 10 states and the Federal District. This represents a new record for samples in the history of the Evaluation and highlights the expansion of production to different regions of the country.
Details about the National Wine Evaluation, scheduled for October 17th in Bento Gonçalves (RS), were presented at a luncheon held for the press and influencers at the Brado restaurant in Porto Alegre.
The meeting was attended by the president of ABE, Mario Lucas Ieggli, and the vice-president, Michel Zignani, and is also part of a special year for the organization, which is celebrating 50 years of activity.
According to Leggli, the key word in this 34th edition is the diversity of Brazilian wine. Diversity is the right word. "Because there are different regions making wine, delivering quality wine. That's fantastic," he emphasized.
According to the president of ABE, the expansion of the wine-growing map demonstrates the potential that the country still has for development. He also highlighted data recently presented by the president of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), indicating that Brazil is on a growth trajectory in the sector.
"This shows how great our country is and how great Brazilian wine is," Ieggli summarized.
Technique before reaching the trophies
Before the grand event in October, the wines undergo a rigorous evaluation process. The 2026 Vintage Selection Tasting involved 109 winemakers, responsible for the technical work that defines the representative samples for this edition.
This step helps explain an important difference: the National Wine Evaluation is not a competition. Professionals analyze wines still in production, in an essentially technical assessment, with the aim of building a portrait of the Brazilian harvest.
At the end of the process, 16 samples are chosen to represent the 2026 harvest and will be presented to the public on October 17th.
An experience that goes beyond technical evaluation.
While the selection process is essentially technical, the encounter with the public broadens the scope of the event. The Evaluation brings together industry professionals, producers, winemakers, and enthusiasts around the same 16 samples, tasted simultaneously and accompanied by commentary.
ABE's vice president, Michel Zignani, highlighted that this combination is one of the characteristics that makes the event unique.
"It's a technical event, a sensory panel showcasing the harvests that are available in Brazil. But it's also an experience, a gathering, and above all, nowadays it's a celebration," he stated.
The event will be held in Pavilion E of the Bento Gonçalves Events Park, which has a capacity for up to 800 participants.
The program begins at 4 PM with registration. The opening takes place at 5 PM, and at 5:25 PM, the tasting and discussions begin. After a break at 6:40 PM, the activity resumes at 6:50 PM. The cocktail reception starts at 9 PM, and the program continues until midnight.
For Ieggli, the 17th represents precisely the culmination of all the work previously carried out by the professionals involved in the selection process.
"On the big day, which is October 17th, that's when we'll find out. That's our big moment," he emphasized.
In its 34th edition, and in the year that ABE celebrates five decades, the National Wine Evaluation reinforces a transformation that appears both in the numbers and in the glasses: the map of Brazilian wine is becoming increasingly broad and diverse.
Service
34th National Wine Evaluation – 2026 Vintage
Date: October 17, 2026
Location: Pavilion E – Bento Gonçalves Events Park (RS)
Audience: up to 800 participants
Registration: 4 PM
Start time: 5 PM
Tasting and comments: 5:25 PM
Break: 6:40 PM
Tasting resumes at 6:50 PM.
Cocktail: 9 PM
Closing time: 00h
Tickets and more information are available on the website of the Brazilian Association of Enology (ABE): enologia.org.br.
