Wine tourism, a possible advantage of theWine tourism, a possible advantage of the Timiş CountyTimiş County

Associate Professor PhD. Cipriana SavaAssociate Professor PhD. Cipriana SavaFaculty of Tourism and Commercial Management TimişoaraFaculty of Tourism and Commercial Management Timişoara

Christian University ”D. Cantemir” Bucharest, RomaniaChristian University ”D. Cantemir” Bucharest, Romaniacipriana.sava@gmail.comcipriana.sava@gmail.com

Key words: tourism, wine tourism, wineries, visitors

Tourism is the activity whose development was influenced by the existence of natural and anthropic tourist resources, but also by the potential tourists’ motivation. Motivation is the main element that influences the buying decision of a tourist product and its consumption. It is personal and subjective, determined by a serious of endogenous (psychological) and exogenous (environmental) impulses. Tourists’ motivations are varied and multiple, from their need to recreation to that of knowledge.

The form of tourism that has as purpose the visit to wine regions and wine tasting is known as wine tourism. The main elements of wine tourism are the village and the wine, as well as the wine cellars in the vineyards, the accommodation facilities, the tour-operators, and the gift shops.

Types of wine consumers and tourists motivationsTypes of wine consumers and tourists motivationsTypes of wine consumersTypes of wine consumers Tourists motivationsTourists motivations

- conservative (has medium knowledge conservative (has medium knowledge about wines);about wines);

- tasting;tasting;

- image-oriented (seeks knowledge image-oriented (seeks knowledge about wines);about wines);

- purchasing wines from the winery;purchasing wines from the winery;

- basic (purchases sure marks)basic (purchases sure marks) - admiring natural and authentic admiring natural and authentic rural landscapes;rural landscapes;

- experienced (has great knowledge experienced (has great knowledge about wines);about wines);

- knowing the local customs and knowing the local customs and traditions;traditions;

- social (fun-oriented consumer)social (fun-oriented consumer) - meeting their favourite wine meeting their favourite wine producer;producer;

- knowing the wine processing knowing the wine processing technologies;technologies;

- recreation;recreation;- leisure.leisure.

Elements necessary to wine tourism and its Elements necessary to wine tourism and its resultsresults

Elements necessary for tourism Elements necessary for tourism developmentdevelopment

Results of wine tourism Results of wine tourism developmentdevelopment

- existence of modern access existence of modern access roads;roads;

- sustainable development of sustainable development of the area;the area;

- construction of spaces meant construction of spaces meant for wine tasting;for wine tasting;

- improving the image of improving the image of local wines;local wines;

- construction of spaces meant construction of spaces meant for wine selling;for wine selling;

- increasing wine sales;increasing wine sales;

- opening of public food opening of public food facilities for serving facilities for serving traditional culinary products;traditional culinary products;

- attracting new segments of attracting new segments of consumers;consumers;

- opening accommodation opening accommodation facilities;facilities;

- promoting local wine and promoting local wine and traditional culinary traditional culinary products;products;

- construction of spaces for construction of spaces for selling crafts and souvenirs.selling crafts and souvenirs.

- maintaining traditions and maintaining traditions and customs.customs.

Tourists practicing this form of tourism can Tourists practicing this form of tourism can opt for:opt for:

•itineraries like the “wine route”;itineraries like the “wine route”;•carriage or bike rides through vineyards;carriage or bike rides through vineyards;•vineyard sojourns;vineyard sojourns;•visiting vineyards with wine tasting in the visiting vineyards with wine tasting in the

wine cellars;wine cellars;•visiting viti-vinicultural museums;visiting viti-vinicultural museums;•visiting wine houses;visiting wine houses;•participating in feasts and festivals;participating in feasts and festivals;•participating to wine exhibitions and fairs;participating to wine exhibitions and fairs;•participating to initiation courses in the participating to initiation courses in the

secrets of wine.secrets of wine.

The Timiş County is located in the west part of Romania, bordering Serbia and Hungary, having an area of 869665 ha (3,6% of the country’s total area), of which 702066 ha is agricultural area, that is 80,7% of the county’s total area.

Evolution of areas cultivated with vine in the Timiş CountyEvolution of areas cultivated with vine in the Timiş County

Year 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2011

Vineyards and vine nursery (ha)

757 987 313 4354 3871 3882

Name of Name of winerywinery

GPS GPS coordinatecoordinate

ss

Type of Type of winewine

Wine varietyWine variety

Recaş (S.C.Cramele Recaş S.A)

45.826975N, 21.525908E;

-Cabernet Sauvignon;-Burgundy;-Merlot;-Traminier;-Cadarcă;-Italian Riesling;-Fetească regală;-Creaţă;-Mustoasă;-Muscat Ottonel;

-Sole White Brut (sparkling);-Cabernet Sauvignon- Castel Huniade;-Fetească Regală – Castel Huniade;-Chardonnay- Castel Huniade;-Merlot-Pinot Noir- Castel Huniade;-Mustoasa-Cocoşul dintre Vii;-Chardonnay- Cocoşul dintre Vii;-Syrah-Cocoşul dintre Vii;-Fetească Neagră-Cocoşul dintre Vii;-Cabernet Sauvignon-La Putere;- Fetească Neagră-La Putere;-Merlot-La Putere;-Chardonnay Sole-barrique;-Fetească Regală-barrique;-Sauvingnon Blanc Sole;-Solo Quinta;-Cuvee Uberland;- Roze Castel Huniade;-Schwaben Wien;

Val D’Or 45.621001N, 21.622081E;

-Chasselas;-Merlot;-Cabernet Sauvignon;-Burgundy;

-Kapellenwein Gutedel (house wine);-Cabernet Sauvignon;

Petro Vaselo (S.C.Vigna S.R.L)

45.826975N, 21.576049E

-Merlot;-Pinot Noir;-Cabernet Sauvignon;-Chardonnay;- Italian Riesling.

-White of PetroVaselo; -Red of PetroVaselo;-Ovaş;-Otarniţa;-Melgiş;-Maletine;-Bendiş (sparkling).

Visits to Recaş and Val D’Or wineries can be done with a prior appointment, while in Petrovaselo the opening hours are from Monday to Friday between 9.00 and 17.30, other visits can be done with appointment 7 days before.

For wine tasting there is also a possibility in Timişoara at “De Savoya” wine shop whose GPS coordinates are 45.756674N, 21.228314E, and where all those interested are waited from Monday to Saturday (Monday-Thursday 11-23; Friday-Saturday 11-24).

Another attraction for tourists interested in wines and viniculture is in Teremia Mare, in Cultural Centre no. 74 where the Wine Museum is.

Interesting wine-related events are:•VINVEST annual exhibition, organized in Timişoara in April;•The Wine Festival, Timişoara, October;•The Wine Feast Recaş, October;•Papricaş and Wine Festival, Buziaş, October.

Due to short distances from Timişoara, a leisure or knowledge excursion for local people or business people can be made effortless.

The Recaş Wineries have three tasting rooms with a maximum capacity of 150 seats. In 2011 they have recorded, according to the sales manager, 10.000 tourists eager to know the production process of wine and to taste the “Gods’ liquor”, an increase of 20% compared to 2010. According to their origin country, half were foreigners, the majority coming from Austria and Germany. Investors intend to open an agrotourist pension in Recaş in order to develop the tourism activity.

The activity in Petrovaselo started only in 2002, and the Petrovaselo Winery was opened in 2011, which is why there is no data about tourists who were there.

At the Val D’Or Winery, which belongs to the "Heiner Buttenberg" foundation, tourists can also enjoy traditional food, especially the paprika stew cooked in their kitchen. Unfortunately, no access to the number of tourists was possible.

Romania is known internationally for its quality wines. In the Timiş County, in its vineyards, there is the possibility to develop wine tourism, only the creation of various tourist packages and a more aggressive promotion being necessary. Rides with a carriage or bike through the vineyards are not yet included in the offers. Taking into account that the population in the wine areas is Romanian, German and Serbian, a great interest would be for the local cuisine, the traditions and the specific traditional costume.

This form of tourism can be of interest to Romanian tourists from the region and the country, but also to foreigners.

Wine tourism can address adults as well as pupils, but without wine tasting for the latter ones.

It is known that this county is not among the first as tourist destination, therefore niche tourism, as wine tourism is perceived, could attract more tourists and increase the incomes in this field.