What is Wine Tourism?

Do you remember the first time you went wine tasting? Going to a vineyard is a wine lover's favorite part of a vacation. From learning about the region to understanding the winemakers, it's about so much more than trying the wine, though that's not to say that part isn't fun too! 

However, most people happen to go to a vineyard while on vacation. What about those that go on holiday to see a vineyard. Now, we're talking about wine tourism. Pack your plug-in wine cooler and favorite wine glass because it's time to travel the world. 

What is Wine Tourism? 

Traveling to find the best wine is becoming popular among travelers that want something more. Wine tourism, just like eco-tourism or adventure travel, exists for a niche group of people who want to travel the world with one goal in mind. 

The thing is that group of people contributes $2 billion annually in California alone! It goes to show, while not everyone travels just to see the home of their favorite wine, enough people are that this trend isn't something to be ignored. 

Choosing Wine Tourism as a Traveler

Traveling to expand your wine collection can come in many forms and budgets. You could hop over one state or fly across the globe to get your hands on one or ten bottles of something new or something you love. The options for wine tourism are endless. So, where do you start? 

Where to Go For Wine Tourism?

Whether you like white wine or red wine, there are options galore. Different types of wine travel will be perfect for different types of travelers. To make things simpler, we've made a list of a few of the types of events that you could visit if wine travel is something you want to take part in. 

Open Door Tourism

Imagine strolling down the streets of Sienna or driving the backroads of California when you walk past a sign that says, "free wine tasting." You've just found open door tourism. Simple but effective, you go in, try wine, and learn about the business you've walked into. 

Great Places to Visit: 

• Sienna, Italy
• St. Augustine, Florida
• Paris, France
• Finger Lakes, New York

Education + Entertainment

If you've ever wanted to go to Spain or France for a blending session or harvesting workshop, then you've been interested in this type of tourism before. You'll have a planned visit where you learn and taste along the way. 

• Bordeaux, France
• Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
• Willamette Valley, Oregon
• Cape Town, South Africa

Big Budget Productions

Two options exist here. One, if you've ever been to a factory tour, this is what you can expect in wine form. You'll be shown around a preset route, told a memorized speech, and shown the wines they want you to try. Not bad by any means but much more touristy than personal. 

On the other hand, you could be looking at something even bigger. Think resort level big or Disney World level big. Wine Resorts are growing in popularity. While not as educational as other types of events, certainly a wine-lovers dream. 

• Calistoga Ranch, Napa Valley
• The Farm at Cape Kidnappers, Hawe's Bay, New Zealand
• Grace Cafayate, Cafayate, Argentina

Wine Events

Lastly, there are events. Depending on where you live, you might not even have to go far to find these. Think about a home show where different vendors show you what they have. In these events, different wine vendors, or even wine refrigeration companies will attend to show you what they can offer the wine lover inside you. 

• Mill Valley Wine, Beer & Gourmet Food Tasting | Mill Valley, CA
• Pittsburgh Wine Festival - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Sierra Pelona Valley Wine Festival - Santa Clarita, CA

Where to Store It All?

With all the events all around the world, you may be wondering where you can store all the wine you're going to be bringing back. That's where a wine fridge comes in. Whether you want a wine chiller for your two new bottles or a wine cellar that can keep all 100 at just the right temperature, Wine Cellar HQ is the perfect solution. 

We offer plug-in wine coolers, thermoelectric wine coolers, dual-zone wine coolers, and more! Whether you want a glass door to show off your collection of a sleek metal door to blend in, we'll make sure that your gathered treasures stay ready to drink all year round. 

Get ready for your next wine vacation and haul today by taking a look around our shop! If you can't find what you're looking for, contact us, and we'll help you get exactly what you need!

Randy Green

Randy is a true wine storage aficionado and expert in wine cellar design. He gained construction experience as a partner in a general contracting business before niching into and passionately focusing on creating wine storage solutions for clients in 2016. He takes great pride in bringing these designs to life, and is dedicated to ensuring that every wine cellar he creates is not only functional but also a beautiful addition to any home or business. The Wine Cellar HQ team also includes refrigeration sizing experts and licensed HVAC technicians to ensure optimal climate control for your wine cellar, so that your wines can age to perfection.