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Culinary and Wine Travel in the United States

Food and Wine Travel Gains Popularity in the U.S.

by Jessica Howell

If gourmet goodies and rich, vintage wines tempt your taste buds, you're a likely candidate for the increasingly popular culinary travel sector, a niche market that 27 million travelers have partaken in the past three years.

"A sizable proportion of the U.S. leisure market does indeed make travel decisions based on a desire for wine and culinary experiences."

From cooking classes to food festivals and winery tours to grape-stomping, well-off, young travelers are in search of a unique experience that focuses on a destination's environment and culture, reports a recent study by the Travel Industry of America. What better way to indulge and immerse than with the country's favorites, renewed? Maine lobsters, anyone? Napa Valley wine?

"The study demonstrates that a sizable proportion of the U.S. leisure market does indeed make travel decisions based on a desire for wine and culinary experiences. In fact, it confirms that wine and culinary experiences are a driver of destination choice," said Laura Mandala, Vice President of Research for the Travel Industry Association.

The study shed light on a particular type of traveler - dubbed the "serious" culinary traveler - someone who intentionally seeks out wine and food experiences when traveling. TIA found that these travelers differ from others by being more likely to shop, visit parks and museums and read epicurean magazines.

Now knowing that such a traveler exists, it's likely that more and more food- and wine-related travel packages will pop up for both culinary and leisure travelers, suggests Catherine Makk, Executive Marketing Director for Gourmet.

TIA's study found that on average, food travelers spend most per vacation, totaling about $1,194 per trip, with 36 percent of their travel budget being spent on food-related activities. Wine travelers spend an average of $973 per trip, with 25 percent of their travel budget going towards wine-specific activities.

But most importantly, where is it that foodies and wine connoisseurs flock for time away? Below are the top five destinations for each:

Top Travel Destinations
Food Wine
California
California
Florida
New York
New York
Missouri
Texas
North Carolina
North Carolina
Oregon

To read details on ROAD & TRAVEL's favorite wine-and-dine hot spots, click on any of the articles below:

USA: Top Food and Wine Destinations

California: Wine Country Getaway in Temecula Valley
Georgia: 100% Georgian Wine -- On the Trails

Canada: Annapolis Valley Wines, Nova Scotia
Chile: Wineries of Chile

(Source: TIA)