🍷 Wine tourism

Wine tourism means trips to wineries and vineyards to see how wine is made and to taste it. People travel to wine regions for the scenery, food, culture and contact with producers. For the regions themselves it is extra income.

A typical trip includes a tour of the vineyard and cellar, a tasting and sometimes lunch. In many regions wine routes have been laid out: itineraries that pass wineries and are marked with signs and maps. Well-known routes exist in Tuscany, Bordeaux, Napa, South Africa and Austria. Festivals are sometimes held, especially during harvest.

Wine tourism is tied to wine in general. For a winery it is useful because wine can be sold directly to visitors. Guests should keep safety in mind: taste in small portions, do not drive, and use a driver or public transport if needed. A tasting can also be done without swallowing, by spitting the wine into a special container.