Many foreigners that travel to Brazil come for the beaches or the Amazon, but not many know that Brazil’s southernmost state, Rio Grande do Sul, is more akin to Italy or Argentina than to Rio de Janeiro or Salvador. Originally settled by Italian and German immigrants, the area is famous for being the home of the traditional churrasco (barbecue) and for being the country’s main wine region.

One of the region’s prime resorts, the Villa Europa Hotel & Spa. The first of its kind in Brazil and only the fifth in the world, the hotel’s spa uses grapes and wine ingredients in its treatments. The hotel boasts antique furniture, a French-Italian restaurant, and a wine cellar containing over 550 types of wine.

The hotel is located near the region’s major vineyards, including Miolo, Casa Valduga, and Salton, which offer tours, restaurants, and wine tastings. The area is also famous for artisans, cheesemakers, and furniture makers.

For more information on the hotel and spa, click here. For more information on Rio Grande do Sul, click here.