Fazenda Rio Verde

About

The Rio Verde farm is located amid the Serra da Mantiqueira mountains. In Tupi-Guarani, which is the region’s native language, Mantiqueira means “mountain that cries”?. Rio Verde was created in 1887 and managed until 2002 by the Gomes Fernandes family, which founded Ipanema Coffees. Ipanema Coffees acquired the farm in 2008. Rio Verde covers over 1,500 hectares, including 770 hectares of preserved forests with more than 50 freshwater springs, and 22 hectares of Australian cedars and African mahogany. 160 hectares are reserved for other crops such as macadamia nuts, and over 620 hectares are dedicated to coffee production in 32 different micro-terroirs. On these 32 plots, each variety is isolated and harvested selectively and by lots. The cherries are taken to the mill within 6 hours. Since 2016, Ipanema Coffees has been carrying out numerous tests at the farm to improve its drying methods. The company has built 2,000 sqm of African beds and an 800 sqm covered patio. Harvesting methods have been refined with the introduction of a Q Grader cupping panel. The Red Acaia, Yellow Bourbon and Yellow Catuai varieties are all grown at an altitude of over 1,000 metres. With its 32 micro-terroirs, 3 harvesting models, 2 preparation methods and numerous drying techniques, the farm can produce various cup profiles. There are about thirty hives at the Rio Verde farm. Their bees produce 1,000 litres of honey each year and contribute actively to the pollination of coffee trees. A 20,000 sqm variety garden has also been built. The 48 varieties are tasted to single out their cup potential.

The farm in detail