According to the latest research, three million tourists come to Italy each year, looking for good wine and wanting to become familiar with some wineries, even getting to know the producers themselves. This phenomenon is on the rise and it could be a trend which can provide good support to those who are committed to working hard on a daily basis to achieve their goals and who are passionate about constantly improving their wines. By the same token, wine growers have understood that they need some preparation so as to be ready to face this new challenge. How should wine-tourists be greeted? What are their interests? Is it a good idea to take them on a tour of the vineyard or head straight to the wine cellar? Would it be wise to create a network with the best restaurants in the territory? And even before that, should the producers connect with travel agencies and tour operators? Should wine-tourism be tied to the summer holidays or would it be better to organize winery visits at other times during the course of the year?
Considerations on the phenomenon of tourism tied to the world of wine is, by now, a frequent object of public debate and often, seminars and meetings are organized so people can hear the voices on all sides of the issue. These venues provide a forum where tour operators, producers, journalists and individual wine-tourism enthusiasts can get together and compare ideas. From here, statistics are compiled, thoughts are shared and common lines of action defined. At the top of the list is the conviction that we should be aiming to showcase wine and rural territories, for they represent two fundamental elements of quintessential Made in Italy. Second priority goes to raising awareness that it is time to organize what can be offered, because an amazing 70% of visitors no longer have a travel agency plan their trip, preferring instead to choose their own itinerary with the help of the Internet. The Web is indisputably of vital importance and communication is indispensable: if you don’t communicate, you don’t exist.
The Marche region is blessed with a splendid landscape and its territory can offer exactly what is most loved by the wine-tourist: quiet, peaceful spots that are a bit off the beaten path, waiting to be discovered (full of unexpected treasures). We recommend a tour through the land of Verdicchio and Rosso Conero. It will take you from the mountains to the sea, by way of gentle hills that have been molded by centuries of patient labor performed by our farming forefathers; a patchwork of fields, dotted with small towns and villages that have Medieval origins, often perfectly restored and thriving. It is a land to be visited in all seasons of the year, where marvelous wineries run by expert vintners are waiting with open doors. Of course, not to be overlooked is the excellent cuisine; here you’ll find everything from small, family-style restaurants in the country that offer traditional, authentic recipes to well-known and famous restaurants that offer their clientele the latest in innovation, rediscovery and refinement.