Certification and the "Decalogue of Welcoming"

M

ovimento Turismo del Vino is an association that operates throughout the national territory with the aim of promoting and enhancing territories and places of wine production, creating economic growth prospects, but, above all, promoting a natural lifestyle which puts the guest in the spotlight. MTV member wineries are selected according to specific requirements: first of all, the quality of the wine tourism hospitality. The wine tourist is ever more careful, prepared and evolved with precise expectations when visiting a winery. The hospitality must then comply with specific quality standards. The culture of wine can not be improvised. It needs suitable equipment, adequate facilities and staff able to transmit the history, technique and emotion of producing wine. For this reason, MTV issued the "Decalogue of Welcoming" in 2003, which stems from the need to qualify the offerings of its member wineries. Certified by 3A-PTA (Agribusiness Technology Park of Umbria), the "Decalogue of Welcoming" is the definition of the requirements that must be guaranteed by all MTV member companies: the appropriate signposting, the appropriate environment for wine tasting, the specific staff training, the availability of wine tasting glasses, the possibility of guided tours in wineries and vineyards and the preparation of informative wine material. The wineries that meet these precise quality standards get the "Quality Certification", synonymous with professionalism in hospitality. The certificate is subject to periodic controls and three-year renewals. The certified wineries are immediately recognizable thanks to the "Accoglienza coi Fiocchi" Badge (“Special Welcome” Badge).

accoglienza coi fiocchi
accoglienza coi fiocchi

“Quality of Wine Hospitality” Regulations

There are three elements that are considered to define the characteristics that each group of estates has to guarantee: Standard for the Company - Method - Staff

STANDARDS

  • Signage in accordance with the roadway code, located in the vicinity of the company making it easy to find.
  • A terracotta tile that identifies the winery/distillery as a member of the Movimento Turismo del Vino to be posted at the company's entrance within one year from its certification audit.
  • A Plaque - sign showing the reception information (days and times) to be affixed at the entrance of the company within one year from its certification audit.
  • A location for the initial welcome and reception of clients, proportional to the required capacity of the visit (minimum 4 people).
  • An area equipped for tastings with enough seats proportional to the receptive capacity of visits (minimum 4 people), characterized by a uniform and widespread lighting of adequate intensity.
  • Shop area. If this area is not apart from the rest, the stock area must be apart from the tasting and reception of the client areas.
  • Hygienic washrooms available to the visitors, adequate to the stated reception capacity with health and hygiene requirements in accordance with public use and local regulations.
  • Parking lot reserved for tourists, which is designed for the reception capacity. (car-bus)
  • Informative material about the company and its products printed in at least two languages, including Italian.

METHOD

  • Carrying out the initial welcome with familiarity, making guests feel comfortable (serving water and giving the possibility of using washrooms).
  • Offering the possibility of winery and/or vineyard guided tours
  • Making available only pre-packaged wines/spirits for visitors.
  • Making at least one type of tasting glass available.
  • Being available to receive visitors (tour and tasting) on Sundays, pre-holidays and / or holidays, by appointment.
  • Availability of data sheets or brochures of the company's different types of wines or spirits enabling the wine tourist to know the proposed wines / spirits.

STAFF

  • The welcoming employee must have a good level of knowledge about the company, its products and its working procedures, must be courteous, professional and able to hold the tour of the winery/distillery activities as well as to offer the company's wines/spirits tastings.
  • In the case of wine, staff must have knowledge of viticulture and enology, and possibly of territory tradition.
  • The person in charge of welcoming must have knowledge of at least one foreign language.
“Ristorazione Doc" (D.O.C. Restaurants): fine restaurants where excellent food accompanied by local wines can be tasted.

The quality seal “Ristorazione Doc" indicates quality restaurants, among MTV member companies, in which meals, prepared with great skill and elegance, are combined with a selection of wines. These restaurants marked by the seal “Ristorazione Doc” are often located in structures of historical interest, such as castles and old houses and are often supervised by top chefs of national fame. In these places wine lovers can take part in unforgettable and multi-sensory experiences, in a welcoming and elegant atmosphere.

“Le cantine del buon dormire" (Wineries of Good Rest): special accommodations in a special atmosphere.

Castles, country houses, estates and historic residences in breathtaking landscape contexts, right where wines are produced: they are "Le cantine del buon dormire" a network of accommodation facilities of great charm where travellers can stop for a simple visit but also for a "full optional" stay. Exclusive places where you can enjoy comfort worthy of the most luxurious hotel facilities such as elegant spas (with wine therapy), restaurants, swimming pools, gardens and memorable landscapes.