Synergies in Food, Wine, Culture and Tourism

This chapter aims to present positive correlations between food, wine, culture, and tourism through the presentation of a selection of case studies that are internationally renowned as places where those elements have been creatively combined. It shows that enhancement in gastronomic experience is more than simply generating new ideas. Food and wine are expressions of local culture and its tangible and intangible heritage. Along with their value for human nutrition, food and wine convey a range of cultural and social meanings. Tourism research has fully acknowledged the new role of both these elements in the context of cultural tourism. The gastronomic product is the main subject, but it is also often combined with other cultural expression. The resulting combinations contribute to create immersive settings that engage tourists more deeply. Food and wine producers are thus invited to develop new experiences around the basic product with themes, staging and performance.