Rebirth of viticulture and associated changes in the rural areas of Lower Silesia, SW Poland

Edyta Pijet-Migoń,Karolina Królikowska

doi:10.7163/gpol.0176

Abstract

This paper addresses the problem of how the reborn winemaking in Lower Silesia may contribute to the social, landscape and functional changes of rural areas. Newly established vineyards refer back to the local traditions of grape cultivations which vanished for the variety of reasons. Vineyards are typically small family businesses. The profiles of winemakers show that they are most often educated persons, arriving from cities, who follow their passion and consider winemaking as a supplementary source of income. They are aware of the value of local products, traditions and harmonious landscape and expose these values in both the process of winemaking itself, as well as in developing wine tourism. They support and organize new activities such as music events, recreational events, and guest presentations. Vineyards are new elements of the rural landscape, but they are historically justified and harmoniously integrated with the topography, whereas associated infrastructure usually represents good examples of revitalization of existing buildings, occasionally of architectural value. Due to the family-type business on the vineyards it is rather premature to infer their direct positive influence on local employment and incomes. Nevertheless, due to the growth of wine tourism local suppliers are expected to increasingly benefit from this development trend.

Highlights

Winemaking industry is a dynamic business, which shapes the face of many regions in the Old and New World in both physical sense, contributing to the emergence of distinctive landscapes, as well as by imposing changes in the local economy
This paper addresses the problem of how the reborn winemaking in Lower Silesia may contribute to the social, landscape and functional changes of rural areas
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the impact of newly established vineyards in Lower Silesia, SW Poland, on the rural areas, including social, landscape and functional changes, as present in the very early stage of vineyard growth, as well as possible pathways of development in the near future

Summary

Introduction

Winemaking industry is a dynamic business, which shapes the face of many regions in the Old and New World in both physical sense, contributing to the emergence of distinctive landscapes, as well as by imposing changes in the local economy. These changes are direct, arising from the winemaking process itself that creates employment opportunities and generates income, and indirect, related to the growth of wine tourism which includes sightseeing, wine tasting and purchasing. Southwestern Poland (= Lower Silesia) is one of the regions where the latter process is observed nowadays

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