This article looks at the best Brazilian wines to mark Mothering Sunday, which are available from Go Brazil. There’s a section on why Brazil celebrates Mother’s Day in a different month, as well as a look at Easter, which is coming up shortly after Mother’s Day in the UK.
This article should take four to five minutes to read.
The exact date that Mother’s Day is celebrated varies from year to year. However, it’s always on the fourth Sunday in Lent, which is usually in March. In Brazil, Mother’s Day is celebrated in another month entirely – May!
Whichever date or country you are celebrating in in, Go Brazil can supply you with the best Brazilian wines to celebrate. The same applies at Easter Sunday as well, which this year falls on 5th April.
The Best Brazilian Wines from Go Brazil
Go Brazil provide Brazilian sparkling wine, spirits, rosés, as well as classic red and white wines. Our online shop can be found here.
Mother’s Day in Brazil
In Brazil, Mother’s Day was influenced by North American traditions. Anna Jarvis, in 1907, turned her mother’s idea – of recognising mothers who had lost their sons in the American Civil War – into reality. Jarvis, in recognition of her own mother, battled to have the second Sunday of May turned into a national holiday. In 1914, the date was officially declared a national holiday by the United States Congress.
And four years later, the Porto Alegre YMCA brought the American tradition to Brazil, and in 1932, the date (still the second Sunday in May) was made official. On the same day, the Virgin Mary is paid homage to, and in 1947, the date was included in the Roman Catholic calendar. Brazilians usually buy presents for their mothers and lunch together as a family.
This year Mother’s Day in Brazil falls on Sunday, May 10.
Mother’s Day in the UK
The idea of a special day to show your love and appreciation of your mother soon came to the UK thanks to Constance Adelaide Smith, an English woman who was the daughter of a clergyman. Reports say she was inspired by reading a newspaper article about the work of Anna Jarvis.
Originally – in the UK at least – Mothering Sunday was seen as a day to visit one’s mother church (that is, where you were baptised). Over the years, however, it has evolved into a more secular celebration of motherhood. Nowadays, the terms Mother’s Day and Mothering Sunday are used almost interchangeably.
This year UK’s Mother’s Day falls on Sunday, March 15.
The Best Brazilian Wines for Mother’s Day
So what is the best way to show your love and appreciation for your mother, whatever month of the year (or country) you are celebrating it in?
A South American sparkling wine is usually well received, so how about our Malbec Rosé Brut NV (£14.99, above left) or Garibaldi Brut Chardonnay (£13.99, above right)? Both are excellent value sparklers, dry to off-dry, light bodied and showing plenty of bubbles.
Alternatively, for a more sophisticated drop, we’d recommend our Familia Geisse Blanc de Noirs Brut 2021, made using the Traditional (Champagne) Method, and produced entirely from Pinot Noir grapes (£26.99, above left) or, if rosé is her thing, the dry but very elegant Campos de Cima Rosé Nature 2022 (also £26.99, above right).
Not only do all these taste delicious but they’re also attractively bottled, so would make a lovely gift!
Another way to celebrate is to cook lunch for her (thereby giving the mother of the family a break!). A traditional roast is a typical Mother’s Day lunch, where the meat might be chicken, lamb or beef.
For lovers of white meat we would recommend a lighter style of red wine, so our partly barrel-aged Pizzato Allumé Pinot Noir 2022, would be ideal: smooth-drinking, with hints of cherry and herbs (£14.49, above left).
Red wine fans might want to gravitate to a heavier style for red meat dishes: we suggest our Campos de Cima Três Bocas Tinto 2022, above right, an unusual but very rewarding three grape blend. Full-bodied, it reveals dense dark fruit on the palate, with hints of bell pepper and spice (£14.99).
Equally, because Mother’s Day falls in spring – at least in the Northern Hemisphere – then seasonal food such as seafood or salads are popular as well, and with those who don’t eat meat!
A couple of high-quality white wines spring to mind: for those who are keen to explore their wine horizons, Campos de Cima’s three grape blend Três Bocas Branco 2023 (featuring the Portuguese Alvarinho & Arinto, and Greek Assyrtiko grapes, above left), is a must-try. Crisp and dry with zingy citric notes, a touch mineral, it’s perfect with fish and seafood dishes (£14.99).
A tad less dry, but equally interesting, is our Sinais Moscato Giallo (‘yellow Muscat’), above right. Honeysuckle and passion fruit aromas mingle with intriguing grapey notes, making this is a light-bodied, refreshing alternative to better known varieties.
And don’t forget dessert either – simnel cake (a light fruit cake) or lemon drizzle are both Mother’s Day traditions which can be enjoyed with wine, just as much as tea or coffee!
Our low-alcohol sparkling Moscato, above, is ideal for pairing with puds, cakes and milk chocolate. Sweet, but balanced by a tangy orange peel acidity, it’s super light both in body and colour, and has gentle persistent bubbles (£14.99).
The Best Brazilian Wines for Easter
This year Easter falls just three weeks after Mother’s Day in the UK – Easter Sunday is on Sunday, April 5. For more information on what food is commonly eaten over the Easter period, check out our previous blog post here.
While we recommend our sparkling Moscato to pair with milk chocolate (see above), for fine dark chocolate with a higher cocoa content a red wine might be more suitable. We would suggest our Don Guerino El Gaucho Tannat 2021: a heavyweight partner that would balance and absorb the bitterness of the dark chocolate. (£15.99, above).
Buying Your Brazilian Wine from Go Brazil
Whether you are celebrating Mother’s Day or Easter, at Go Brazil we are confident you’ll be able to find the perfect wine(s) for your mother, other family members, and of course any friends and guests who may be visiting over the holiday period.
If you have any questions about any of our wines or food pairings, you can follow this link and fill in the online form or call 07841 753515.
FAQS:
Q: How long does it take for my order to be delivered?
A: All orders should be delivered within three working days; all prices include VAT @ 20% and all major credit/debit cards and PayPal are accepted. We strive to be environmentally friendly – that’s why we use recycled cardboard boxes.
Q: Are there any rules about ordering from our site?
A: You must be over 18 to order anything from our website. Also, the minimum order has to contain at least four bottles. Delivery charges can also be found here.
Q: What other services does Go Brazil offer?
A: We don’t just sell bottles online, we try to educate people into the delights of Brazilian wine. Indeed, we frequently host wine tastings for clubs and societies, businesses and other groups. You can also find us at many food and drink fairs across the UK. In addition, we can supply wines for your wedding, themed party and corporate events. For more information, email nicholas@gobrazilwines.com.