Connecting terroirs: pairing between Brazilian wines and cheeses with geographical indication

The pairing of wine and cheese, a classic practice in enogastronomy, gains greater relevance when associated with Geographical Indication (GI) products, as it conveys strong links between territory, cultural identity, and sensory experience. In Brazil, despite the progress in consolidating GIs in sectors such as viticulture and cheesemaking, there is still a lack of accessible materials that can guide consumers in a technical, contextualized, and culturally representative way. This project aims to develop a practical guide to pairing Brazilian wines and cheeses with GI, enhancing their territories of origin, strengthening family farming, and expanding opportunities for conscious consumption and enogastronomic experiences. The methodological approach combines a literature review, the application of the Delphi method in two rounds with specialists, and validation through sensory analysis panels, ensuring both theoretical consistency and practical legitimacy of the proposed recommendations. The concept of terroir underpins the investigation, articulating natural, social, and cultural factors that confer uniqueness to the products. It is expected that the guide will contribute to strengthening Brazilian GIs, promoting wine tourism, and disseminating taste education, positioning itself as an innovative tool for territorial and cultural valorization.