An inspiring journey towards knowledge, experience, and collaboration – the results of mobility in Catalunya

Mobility in Catalonia, organized under the BAVP project 2024-2-BG01-KA122-ADU-000283970: "From vine to visitor: Advancing climate-resilient winemaking and sustainable wine tourism" turned into a professional adventure rich in ideas, knowledge, and inspiration. For six days, a group of Bulgarian wine professionals participated in a program combining observation of good practices, lectures by leading experts, visits to wineries and cooperatives, as well as thematic seminars prepared by our Spanish partners from DomSpain.

The Power of Shared Experience

Participants had the opportunity to observe closely the work of colleagues in various segments of wine production and wine tourism – from historic cooperatives with a rich tradition, through innovative small wineries, to university structures combining scientific approach with practice. Meetings with teams such as those at Cooperativa Falset Marçà, Vinícola Priorat, and L'Olivera showed how important sustainable links between producers, local communities, and the tourism sector are.

Especially impressive were the efforts to preserve and restore old varieties, adapt to climate change, experiment with different varieties and formations, and integrate social causes into the daily work of the wineries. For many of the participants, this was a valuable example of the balance between business development, sustainability, and community significance.

Scientific and Analytical Perspective

Visits to Rovira i Virgili University—both to the Faculty of Oenology and the Faculty of Tourism and Geography—revealed how professional training, research, and data collection support the development of wine tourism. The lecturers presented systematic analyses of the state of the sector in the Tarragona region and the subregions of Catalonia, highlighting the challenges, mistakes, and opportunities for development.

The practical workshops prepared by DomSpain complemented the experience with specific marketing approaches, examples of cooperation between different participants in the wine tourism ecosystem, and guidelines for creating competitive tourism products.

Inspiration and Ideas for the Future

The overall feedback from participants was extremely positive. Their trip provided them not only with knowledge and specific ideas, but also with strong motivation to apply what they had seen in the Bulgarian context. The sharing of experience and good practices from Catalunya shows that success in the sector depends on combining high product quality with active development of the tourist experience and the ability to work in a network – between producers, institutions, and communities.

The project will continue to develop in order to apply the lessons learned and inspiration gained from this journey. BAWP will share the results achieved to stimulate new collaborations and inspire the wine community in Bulgaria towards sustainable development and innovation.