Agri-tourism in the Context of Sustainable Rural Development: Cases Studies of Italian and Polish Wineries

The paper focuses on the concept of agri-tourism and how its development and promotion can contribute the achievement of several sustainable development goals (SDGs), including those related to reducing inequalities, fighting poverty, adopting sustainable consumption and production and ensuring food security. The study is based on the multi- case study method. The purpose is to analyze the sustainable practices within wine production and agri-tourism. The study also aims at better understanding how to achievement of sustainable development objectives in two countries: Italy and Poland. The sustainability of agri-tourism activities cannot be dissociated from the economic, social and cultural life of the community in which it manifests itself and it has a multiplier effect on all the domains with which it interacts. On the other hand, soil, climate, geology, grape varieties and winemaking techniques are all decisive but variable factors that give each wine a unique character and personality (called terroir); all these characteristics, together with rare grape varieties, provide Poland with the opportunity to make wine the important agricultural and agri-tourism product. Using the multi-case research method, the article analyzes one of the most important agricultural products in Italy – wine, discussing it as a key determinant of sustainable rural development and identifying the main factors and circumstances for making Poland a wine and agri-tourism destination, thus also illustrating preliminary data collected from interviews conducted with agri-tourism businesses in Italian and Polish regions. The data show that agri-tourism can play a huge role in promoting territorial marketing strategies, unique local products, preserving architectural heritage, and developing the physical and human capital.