With hundreds of millions of soccer fans in Brazil ready to toast their World Cup team if they win on the weekend, you'd expect that plenty of bottles of champagne are being put on ice.

But Brazilians don't drink much wine, consuming 10 times less than the average Australian.

That is set to change, with a bit of help from Charles Sturt University (CSU) - and a coincidental similarity in the surnames of Brazil's soccer coach, Luiz Felipe Scolari, and the Head of the University's School of Wine & Food Sciences and the Director of the National Wine & Grape Industry Centre (NWGIC), Professor Geoff Scollary.

Recently returned from the Viva Vihno wine expo in Brazil, Professor Scollary said the surname likeness was picked up by the enthusiastic Brazilians, and may even help Australia in its wine export drive.

"I was told I should be honoured to share his name and was asked to give a speech on how we could use its power to enhance the partnership between Australia and Brazil," Professor Scollary said.

Professor Scollary explained that CSU and its partner institution, the NWGIC, are poised to boost the developing wine industry in Brazil and help Australian companies target key markets in the country.

"Wine consumption in Brazil is only about two litres per head annually, way behind Australia at close to 20 litres per head," he said.

"On the other hand, the population of the four major cities in Brazil is about 40 million, so a small increase in annual consumption means a large increase in total volume".

"Winemaking technology in Brazil produces premium quality wines, but viticulture practices will need to change before top quality wines can be produced in large quantities," Professor Scollary said.

Australia currently exports about 160 000 litres of wine per year to Brazil, and Professor Scollary believes the opportunity exists for this volume to grow markedly.

"There is considerable potential for ongoing research, extension collaboration and education and training programs," he said.

Charles Sturt University's education programs in wine science and viticulture today provide world-leading education for 900 students studying on-campus and by distance education.