Five experiences to have at vineyards this summer

Wine tourism has been growing strongly over the last few years. Wine has acquired considerable importance in travel choices.

The Report on Italian Food and Wine Tourism 2020 by Roberta Garibaldi, Professor of Marketing, Economics, and Business, Tourism Management at the University of Bergamo confirms this trend. According to Garibaldi:

“The food and wine in tourism are no longer limited to purchasing local products or eating typical dishes, but it may include visiting places of production such as wineries, breweries, oil mills, dairy farms, pasta factories, . . . going to gourmet and historic restaurants, buying food from food trucks, participating in cooking classes, food tours, and events themed around food, wine, and beer. A plurality of experiences that will capture the senses and allows to actively and passionately enjoy the cultural heritage of the place.”

And it goes beyond wine! There is in fact a whole world to discover, know and live: stories, people, places, feelings, and emotions. Wine multiplies the storytelling opportunities of a territory. It allows the traveler to get in direct contact with the culture and traditions of the region. It is a link to the territory which can lead to infinite directions.

This is why it is key for a winery to offer travelers multiple experiences to get to know wine from different perspectives, while at the same time helping to promote local tourism. What are the most exciting activities to try in the cellar?

FIVE EXPERIENCES TO TRY IN THE WINE CELLAR THIS SUMMER

TREKKING ALONG VINEYARDS

There’s nothing more regenerating than trekking in nature. If the surrounding landscape is dominated by vineyards, the experience becomes even more exciting. Walking along the vines helps you discover places, landscapes, and shortcuts you would never have known otherwise.

It’s really a mystical experience that brings you back to nature. After your trek, you cannot miss out on the wine tastings paired with local, natural, or organic products.

BIKE TOUR ALONG THE VINEYARDS 

A bike tour through the vineyards is definitely one of the activities that allow you to get in direct contact with the territory, to feel its essence, and its most hidden vibrations.

Tours usually include stops at several wineries to allow travelers to get to know different wineries, taste their wines and local delicacies. But that’s not all. Often along the way, wineries alternate with dairies, farmhouses, or attractions such as monasteries, and castles.

A tour to discover the territory that offers participants an immersive experience. 

SUNSET PICNIC

The sunset is without a doubt one of the most beautiful and romantic moments of the day. Imagine spending it in the vineyard, sitting between the rows of vines, enjoying a delicious picnic made of local produce, and sipping good wine.

Don’t you feel good just thinking about it? A very “wild” experience in a bucolic atmosphere that allows you to immediately get in touch with the region.

Not to mention how the view of the landscape is so striking at this time of day!

ART IN THE CELLAR 

What if the cellar transformed into an art museum? The idea of deconstructed places has its charm, and if we were to connect it to the territory, it would garner even more interest.

Promoting the local art of well-known and emerging artists of the area using the spaces of a winery could be an excellent opportunity to promote the territory and not only.

For wineries, it is certainly a way to expand their audience, bring curious people closer and offer visitors an extraordinary experience. Obviously the visit to the “wine cellar museum” must always be accompanied by tasting wines and the local products. Otherwise what kind of “experience” would it be?

COOKING CLASS IN THE CELLAR 

What if instead of just tasting it, the food was prepared in the cellar? An interesting suggestion for all food lovers and for those who love to get their hands on pasta is surely a cooking class held by a local chef.

The perfect combination of fun and knowledge. An experience that allows you to dive into the food and wine culture of the region, to closely discover places, smells, tastes, local products, culture, and traditions.

Learning how to prepare tasty dishes also means discovering how to pair them. Therefore, the cooking class cannot miss the lesson on wine/food pairing, the five senses, and glass etiquette. Participants will be delighted and become talented at the same time!

Which of these activities in the cellar inspires you the most?