Karolina Królikowska
Articles
Geographia Polonica (2025) vol. 98, iss. 4, pp. 405-415
Abstract
The article focuses on wine tourism in Polish vineyards, which has been developing very dynamically in recent years, and aims to look at this phenomenon from the perspective of winemakers. It seeks to explore the primary motivations of winemakers for initiating enotourism activities and to analyse potential factors that support or hinder the development of tourism functions. The study is based on quantitative and qualitative research which involved direct on-site observations, source analysis, and a diagnostic survey that included questionnaires and interviews with winemakers. The primary reasons for introducing tourism offerings by winemakers, often concurrently with the very inception of the vineyard and the commencement of wine production, are the desire to increase direct sales, promote the brand, and establish and maintain relationships with customers and the local community. Many winemakers plan to expand their tourism activities, particularly in terms of accommodation services. However, current obstacles include high investment costs (especially related to the introduction of accommodation and catering services), shortage of appropriate personnel, lack of time, and difficulties in balancing vineyard work with tourist services.
Keywords: wine tourism, enotourism, tourism offer, vineyard management, winemakers, benefits, challenges, local development, Poland
[edyta.migon@wroclaw.merito.pl], Faculty of Finance and Management WSB Merito University in Wroclaw Fabryczna 29-31, 53-609 Wrocław: Poland
[marta.sidorkiewicz@usz.edu.pl], Faculty of Economics Finance and Management, Institute of Management University of Szczecin Cukrowa 8, 71-004 Szczecin: Poland
[karolina.krolikowska@upwr.edu.pl], Institute of Spatial Management Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences Grunwaldzka 55, 50-357 Wrocław: Poland
[adubel@agh.edu.pl], Faculty of Management AGH University of Krakow al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow: Poland
[berenika.dyczek@uwr.edu.pl], Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Sociology University of Wrocław Koszarowa 3, 51-147, Wroclaw: Poland
Rebirth of viticulture and associated changes in the rural areas of Lower Silesia, SW Poland
Geographia Polonica (2020) vol. 93, iss. 3, pp. 321-340 | 
Full text
doi: https://doi.org/10.7163/GPol.0176
Abstract
This paper addresses the problem of how the reborn winemaking in Lower Silesia may contribute to the social, landscape and functional changes of rural areas. Newly established vineyards refer back to the local traditions of grape cultivations which vanished for the variety of reasons. Vineyards are typically small family businesses. The profiles of winemakers show that they are most often educated persons, arriving from cities, who follow their passion and consider winemaking as a supplementary source of income. They are aware of the value of local products, traditions and harmonious landscape and expose these values in both the process of winemaking itself, as well as in developing wine tourism. They support and organize new activities such as music events, recreational events, and guest presentations. Vineyards are new elements of the rural landscape, but they are historically justified and harmoniously integrated with the topography, whereas associated infrastructure usually represents good examples of revitalization of existing buildings, occasionally of architectural value. Due to the family-type business on the vineyards it is rather premature to infer their direct positive influence on local employment and incomes. Nevertheless, due to the growth of wine tourism local suppliers are expected to increasingly benefit from this development trend.
Keywords: viticulture, vineyards, wine tourism, rural areas, sustainable development
[edyta.migon@wroclaw.merito.pl], Faculty of Finance and Management WSB Merito University in Wroclaw Fabryczna 29-31, 53-609 Wrocław: Poland
[karolina.krolikowska@upwr.edu.pl], Institute of Spatial Management Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences Grunwaldzka 55, 50-357 Wrocław: Poland