Vineyards and Wineries in Alba County, Romania towards Sustainable Business Development

Abstract

Starting from a definition of wine tourism, put in the context of sustainable development, a multifaceted research study was elaborated, aimed at establishing if, and how, wine businesses in Alba County, Romania, can develop on a sustainable path. A mix of desk research, qualitative, and quantitative methods and tools were blended together in this research. An investigation of the wineries’ financial situations and online presence was further completed by the interviews with entrepreneurs, local public administration representatives, and residents in order to establish that business development on the wine-route is highly desired and would eventually enjoy the appreciation of both locals and tourists. Instead of conclusions, a framework for the sustainable development of Alba’s wineries is sketched, focusing on those elements that motivate international and also Romanian wine tourists to visit this destination, and emphasizing the need for the establishment of a destination management organization (DMO) capable of managing the interests of all stakeholders under the conditions of sustainable development. Measures to be adopted by winemakers are also provided and a list of ancillary services to be considered is also suggested.

Exploring Wineries and Wine Tourism Potential in the Republic of Srpska, an Emerging Wine Region of Bosnia and Herzegovina

“…Western and southern European countries such as France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, have recognized the potential of the small and medium-sized vineyards and wineries to produce high-quality wine and expand their portfolio by engaging in tourism activities. So today, they are the leading wine tourism destinations in Europe [5].…”

“…Additionally, wine routes can help in the economic revival of underdeveloped regions. Such examples can be found in Moldova and Romania (Transylvania), where wine tours are an important part of the local economy, providing jobs to a significant number of people who would otherwise be without income [5,30,31].…”

“…According to Hall et al [4], this form of tourism can be defined as tourism that includes visits to vineyards, wineries, wine exhibitions, and wine festivals where the main motive of tourists is to experience the attractions of the wine-growing region and the consumption of different wines. When defining wine tourism, Coros , et al [5] state it as a form of rural tourism, provided that it is realized on the territory of vineyards or in cellars for storage and production of wine. According to the authors, this development occurs from a desire of winemakers and other entrepreneurs to use the growing demand for quality wine and start an additional business from areas of food services by opening wine cellars or shops dedicated to wine distribution where wine sales are realized, but and additional gastronomical offer also exists.…”

Wine Routes in Vojvodina Province, Northern Serbia: A Tool for Sustainable Tourism Development

“…Coros , et al [29] analyse in another study if and how the vineyards and the wine cellars from the old wine region, Weinland (Transylvania), crossed by an attractive wine route, can approach a sustainable development. Those elements that motivate the Romanian and foreign tourists to visit this destination are shaped and the need to establish a "Destination Management Organisation" (DMO) is highlighted, which may be able to manage the interests of all the stakeholders within the limits of a sustainable development.…”

Tourism routes: a scoping review

“…Finally, the category others has 9% of the studies and covers a diversity of themes, for instance, sustainable businesses development (Coros, Pop & Popa, 2019), the transformation of businesses in post-industrial heritage sites (Szromek & Herman, 2019), the routes as a framework for intercultural dialogue (Xuereb & Avellino, 2019), or the different typologies of the route's surrounding landscapes (Diti, Torreggiani, & Tassinari, 2015).…”