RUTHERGLEN wineries are tapping into new technology to deliver tourism spin-offs to the region.
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Eighteen wineries around Rutherglen and Wahgunyah are now part of Twenty Five Doors, an app that personalises cellar door tours and offers access to exclusive wine experiences.
Winemakers of Rutherglen executive officer Natalie Ajay said the itinerary building website offered myriad benefits for wineries and consumers.
Ms Ajay said the wineries could better plan ahead for personalised wine experiences.
“It’s great for winemakers because they’ll get notifications from the site when people book wine experiences or master classes,” she said.
“There will be a level of planning you don’t always get when people just show up.
“We hope it will motivate people to have great experiences in our wineries and cellar doors.”
Ms Ajay said visitors could choose to visit cellar doors based on particular attributes such as small and rustic, steeped in history or contemporary.
She said tailor-made visits were now popular with tourists on time limits.
“You don’t want to go somewhere that is not for you,” she said.
“Twenty Five Doors takes away the guesswork because people are selecting itineraries based on attributes.”
Ms Ajay said Winemakers of Rutherglen was investigating the introduction of an itinerary building platform when Twenty Five Doors presented itself.
“It was something Winemakers of Rutherglen was hoping to do,” she said.
“Then Twenty Five Doors handed us a solution on a silver platter.”
Twenty Five Doors was founded by Melbourne-based couple Ross Maher and Amy Luscombe.
Inspired by cooking, entertaining, travel and wine, the husband and wife team have a history in the building sector, consulting, charities, corporates, small business and government.
Ms Ajay said people were free to check out the website at twentyfivedoors.com before visiting the region or they could call at the Rutherglen Wine Experience and Visitor Information Centre.
“For people travelling to Rutherglen, we have a complete set-up at the visitor centre,” she said.
“Our volunteers can also help add value to your stay.”
Visitors can also access the app via winemakers.com.au.