Ethnographic Insights into Winedocking: Bridging Wine Tourism, Producers, and Travelers for Immersive Experiences

Authors

  • Julien Bousquet University of Quebec

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47941/jmh.2586

Keywords:

Winedocking, Wine Tourism, Experiential Travel, Sustainability, Ethnography

Abstract

This article examines winedocking, an innovative blend of wine tourism and boondocking, where travelers camp overnight at vineyard properties. Using ethnographic methods, it explores the behaviors and motivations of winedockers and producers, revealing how this practice enhances visitor experiences and economic opportunities for wineries. Winedocking appeals to modern travelers seeking sustainability, authenticity, and adventure. Travelers enjoy immersive connections with winemakers, while producers benefit from additional revenue and visibility. Fieldwork across U.S. wine regions, including interviews with 47 travelers and 12 winery owners, highlights the mutual benefits and challenges of this trend. The study situates winedocking within the broader wine tourism landscape, demonstrating its potential to drive sustainable tourism and innovation in the industry. It provides insights for producers and stakeholders, emphasizing winedocking’s role in meeting evolving consumer preferences and supporting local economies.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Alonso, A. D., Bressan, A., Kim, O. V. T., Kok, S. K., & Atay, E. (2023). Integrating tradition and innovation within a wine tourism and hospitality experience. International Journal of Tourism Research, 25(1), 169-182.

Amaral, M. M., Kuhn, V. R., dos Anjos, S. J. G., & Flores, L. C. D. S. (2024). Experiences in a wine tourism destination from the visitors’ perspective. International Journal of Wine Business Research, 36(1), 85-102.

Bousquet, J. (2023). Marketing challenges and trends influencing wine producers and consumers. Journal of Business and Management Studies, 5(3), 155-160.

Bousquet, J. (2024). Exploring Boondocking Through Time: Evolution and Challenges for Outdoor Hospitality in the United States. Journal of Tourism Insights, 14(1), 7.

Brito, C., Pereira, S., Martins, S., Monteiro, A., Moutinho-Pereira, J. M., & Dinis, L. (2024). Strategies for achieving the sustainable development goals across the wine chain: a review. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 8, 1-19.

Cayla, J. and Arnould, E. (2013). Ethnographic stories for market learning. Journal of Marketing 77(4), 1-16.

Gastaldello, G., Schamel, G., Streletskaya, N., & Rossetto, L. (2024). Uncorking the virtual frontier of wine experiences: interest drivers and potential consumers’ profile. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management. 36(8), 2633-2652.

Getz, D., & Brown, G. (2006). Critical success factors for wine tourism regions: a demand analysis. Tourism management, 27(1), 146-158.

Golicic, S. L. (2022). Changes in sustainability in the global wine industry. International Journal of Wine Business Research, 34(3), 392-409.

Gómez, M., Pratt, M. A., & Molina, A. (2019). Wine tourism research: A systematic review of 20 vintages from 1995 to 2014. Current Issues in Tourism, 22(18), 2211-2249.

Jones, M. F., Singh, N., & Hsiung, Y. (2015). Determining the critical success factors of the wine tourism region of Napa from a supply perspective. International Journal of Tourism Research, 17(3), 261-271.

Pine, B. Joseph. "II, & Gilmore, JH (1998). Welcome to the experience economy. Harvard Business Review 76.4, 97-105.

Robertson, J., Ferreira, C., Kietzmann, J., & Botha, E. (2024). Message on a bottle: the use of augmented reality as a form of disruptive rhetoric in wine marketing. Journal of Wine Research, 35(2), 119-138.

Santos, V., Dias, A., Ramos, P., Madeira, A., & Sousa, B. (2023). Mapping the wine visit experience for tourist excitement and cultural experience. Annals of Leisure Research, 26(4), 567-583.

Sigala, M. (2023). Thriving in wine tourism through technology and innovation: a survival or a competitiveness need? In Technology Advances and Innovation in Wine Tourism: New Managerial Approaches and Cases (pp. 3-11). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore.

Sigala, M., & Robinson, R. N. (2019). Introduction: The evolution of wine tourism business management. Management and marketing of wine tourism business: Theory, practice, and cases, 1-21.

Stergiou, D. P., Airey, D., & Apostolakis, A. (2018). The winery experience from the perspective of Generation Z. International Journal of Wine Business Research, 30(2), 169-184.

Thach, E. C., & Olsen, J. (2006). The role of service quality in influencing brand attachments at winery visitor centres. Journal of Quality Assurance in Hospitality and Tourism, 7(3), 59-77.

Yadav, M. K., & Dixit, S. K. (2022). The growth and evolution of global wine tourism. In Routledge Handbook of Wine Tourism (pp. 15-28). Routledge.

Downloads

Published

2025-03-18

How to Cite

Bousquet, J. (2025). Ethnographic Insights into Winedocking: Bridging Wine Tourism, Producers, and Travelers for Immersive Experiences. Journal of Modern Hospitality, 4(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.47941/jmh.2586

Issue

Section

Articles