The post-lockdown summer: we talked about it with sommelier Valentina CasettaAnother important step toward normalcy. Starting today, Wednesday, June 3, travel between regions is allowed. So those who love to travel will be able to resume discovering the world.

We at Vespa Tours are also ready to depart safely . We will then explain in detail what we have done tomake Vespa travel safe and hygienic . These past few days, however, we have wondered several times what the summer ahead, the “post lockdown” summer, will be like.

These have been difficult months, in which we have had a chance to reflect and prepare for this new way of traveling, with greater awareness.

True to our values, we are ready to get back in the saddle and allow all enthusiasts and curious people to enjoy a well-deserved Vespa ride in our favorite areas, the Langhe and Monferrato.

To take stock of the situation, we decided to involve here on our blog, an expert in these areas:
Valentina Casetta.
Valentina, from Monferrato by birth, in addition to being a friend of ours, is also an Ais (Italian Sommelier Association) Sommelier, organizes wine courses and loves her land immensely.

We had a chat with her to understand how, from her point of view, it will change the way people work in the tourism industry.

Let’s find out together what she told us! What the post-lockdown summer in Langhe and Monferrato will be like: between tourism and wineries“There will be a greater focus on the domestic market and the tendency will be to work with small groups, following all security measures – Valentina makes it clear right away – The possibility of accommodating small groups will mean that there will be a need to strengthen opportunities for collaboration and networking in the area, so that when one facility reaches the maximum number it will be able to suggest the neighboring facility.”

So “teaming up” becomes almost imperative. But that’s not all, because there will also be technology to support this new way of doing tourism:” Advance reservations, which in the past were already required in almost all wineries and farms, are now even moreso, thanks to the use of special reservation software,” Valentina continues.“ Vineyards will be able to become open-air locations for tastings or, as was already the case in the past, for various sports, for example, trekking, Nordic walking and mountain biking.

The wine experience at the wineries changes. Valentina is convinced of this and explains how: “In this “post lockdown” summer, wineries could equip themselves with branded stemware to take home as souvenirs or replace on-site tasting with bottle sales at bargain prices. Not only that, you can also think of picnic baskets to go with your wine, to be consumed in the vineyard respecting the measurements on spacing.”.Food and wine tourism and wine tourismThe lockdown made us rediscover the pleasure of cooking with family and the desire to share a good glass of wine by bringing the products of agriculture back to the table every day, to the center of our lives.

” Food and wine tourism and wine tourism have been the synthesis of production and territory for years now, despite the fact that wine tourism has only been recognized by law since 2019,” Valentina Casetta points out. “The great online success of wine education and tastings during lockdown makes us understand that consumers want to understand more and learn more about who produces the wine and also about the places where it is produced.

According to Valentina, there is also room to develop a kind of virtual tourism: “Through today’s existing but still underutilized tools to encourage self-directed visitation routes. For example: QR codes within the tour route that link to audio and video content to entertain the consumer and digital tastings with tutorials and video guides for virtual but real tastings.”Online wine courses, dedicated apps: digital tools change face of LangheValentina told us about the wine introduction course, which she holds entirely online. In his 4-hour course he remotely guides all the curious, enthusiasts and people interested in this fascinating world through tasting techniques, explanations and food-wine pairings. An online but hands-on experience in its own right, capable of shortening distances.

Among the initiatives put in place at this stage is the
tabUi
, the App that contains very useful information about the territory of Langhe, Roero and Monferrato, dedicated both to tourists and to those who live in the area. In the lockdown phase, it made it possible to connect the companies that offered the home delivery service and all the people who needed to receive orders at home.In search of experiential tourismPursuing with our chat with Valentina, another interesting aspect emerged. “One reaction to the digital revolution that has shortened distances between people and made lives more homogenized is experiential tourism. The search for more authentic and true (personal) experiences, an empathetic experience with the place and its inhabitants.”

So what will happen this summer? “Tourists will prefer short trips and short stays to destinations close to home and possibly uncrowded. It will mainly be proximity tourism with food motivation and in rural areas characterized by rich cultural and food and wine heritage – Valentina analyzes – The ampi spaces ensure social distancing and contact with nature. In addition, travelers are showing increasing attention to the issue of sustainability from the choice of products to the choice of places to visit.”

Tourism will therefore be slow tourism, discovering small villages, parks, and open-air spaces. This will lead to a preference for agritourism farms, located in secluded parts of the countryside, which are family-run. Characterized by a small number of places, ample space in the facilities’ common areas, and outdoor receptivity with gardens and terraces.

We thank Valentina Casetta for her availability and willingness to engage with us on these issues.

What do you guys think? Have you already made your choices for the summer? What are your thoughts on what’s ahead?Subscribe to Tour in Vespa NewsRetain updated on the launch of new tours and exclusive promotions: you’ll receive valuable tips to experience TourinVespa at its best!Subscribe to Tour in Vespa NewsRetain updated on the launch of new tours and exclusive promotions: you’ll receive valuable tips to experience TourinVespa at its best!