Wine tourism has grown, slowly, but sustainable over the recent years and I feel this is one piece of a whole “Culinary Tourism” niche that is about to develop at a rate of knots!
I for one will applaud any and all attempts to use this amazing medium, that of food and beverage. It speaks to all our senses and assists in creating the memories that we bring home from holidays. The best way of getting to know any culture and its people has be to by the breaking of bread and sharing of a glass of wine [or two!]
I am not to sure of the “pure” wine critic as often the descriptives as cryptic as some wine labels, after all who wants to drink a wine with the essence of “the bottom of a running shoe” as I heard recently!
Of course the tasting of wine is subjective, the same a music and movies!

I feel more availability of wine/beverage tours is required for travellers, but I have to add here in a way the removes the “snob factor” in much the same way as many destinations has with opera.
Marketing of such tours needs an unbiased approach, one that provides all information in a clear and standardised manner.
I was recently at New Orleans where I attended a tourism conference, there I heard a guy called Erik Wolf speak from the International Culinary Tourism Association, he presented a new project of theirs called “FoodTrekker.com” which sounds amazing.
We will be able to search for, read about and book vineyard/brewery tours/tasting, and the site aims to provide a level playing field between the big and not so big guys, so the more special and unique places can be visited.
We will be able to piece together our own itinerary and then print this off prior to our travelling- no more heavy books to cart about taking up valuable space in an ever shrinking baggage allowance!
Of course wine will be apart of this site as it is about anything to do with the culinary/beverage arts!
I find this extremely exciting and so look forward to this becoming live, and with UK/Europe and ultimately Global content! This is great for all who love food and drink, the bigger guys will see the world is their competition, so as consumers I think we all gain to win, and this will keep all on heir toes!
So I raise a glass [or two!] to much more in the way of finding what is unique and special!