Agritourism, also known as agrotourism, is any sort of offering that attracts tourists to a farm or ranch. And vineyards, just to be clear, are farms.
There are many examples of agritourism, ranging from visiting a pumpkin patch before Halloween to eating a farm-to-table dinner at a local farm. Many vineyards have tasting rooms and some vineyards and even farms – especially in places like Italy – have lodging as well.
We at Taste Vacations actually prefer the term “culinary tourism” because it encompasses more activities travelers actually do. For example, culinary tourism can include:
- Traditional agritourism offerings getting people to a producer such as visiting an olive oil mill or a sheep’s cheese farm
- Visiting a local farmer’s market to buy local products
- Eating and drinking local by dining in restaurants known for having local products
- Shopping local by visiting bakeries, butchers, or other retail outlets featuring local food and wine
- Take a local food tour that stops at a number of local restaurants and often introduces you to the chefs
- Take a cooking class when you travel
Only the first truly encompasses agritourism but all fall under the umbrella of culinary tourism.
It is entirely possible to be a culinary tourist traveling on your own. You can easily find restaurants featuring local produce, wineries, or even agricultural producers open to the public where you plan to travel.
However, for a truly amazing vacation steeped in culinary tourism, you might need to travel with a pro. Consider our Tuscany Food & Wine Tour, as just one example. Activities on the seven day tour include:
- Lunch of local farm products and tasting of Chianti wines at the Fattoria Poggio Alloro farm
- Learning about the butchery trade from butcher
- Observing coffee roasting and barista training at a cafe in Arezzo
- Truffle hunting and cooking class with famous agriculturist Augusto Verando Tocci
- Demonstration of gelato making
- Touring a local pecorino (sheep’s cheese) farm in Pienza followed by a picnic
- Winery visits and tastings in both Tuscany and nearby Umbria
You can see that Culinary Tourism is a broad term that can include all sorts of fascinating local activities tied to an area’s food and wine. To experience this in person, join us in Tuscany!
