Vale da Grama is a valley blessed by Santa Clara Chapel, a project designed by the notorious Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. The valley commences at the crater rim of a volcanic formation that encloses the city of Poços de Caldas and extends towards the municipality of São Sebastião da Grama. We are perched at Serra da Mantiqueira – the mountain that weeps, as named by the Tupi Guarani native people – close to the border of the states of São Paulo and Minas Gerais.

Approximately 30 kilometers long and permeated with estates that produce internationally acclaimed coffee and olive oil, Vale da Grama distinguishes itself by its elevated rugged topography and rocky soil, adorned with granite cliffs disposed in a way as to channel the constant wind that blows from May to August.

Positioned at between 950 and 1300 meters above sea level, Fazenda Santa Maria stands in a unique spot within Vale da Grama. Encircled by a native biome and traversed by the Santo Domingos River, its history traces back to the production of refined coffees. Viticulture was introduced in 2017, now encompassing seven hectares of vineyards, strategically planted in designated parcels carefully chosen after meticulous analysis of soil composition, sunlight exposure, drainage patterns and elevation. Over forty percent of Fazenda Santa Maria’s ground is dedicated to the conservation of untouched native vegetation, housing numerous water springs and wildlife, thereby permitting nature to fulfill its pivotal role in the maturation of the grapevines.