This book, like many good wines, has been a long time in development. First discussed between some of the editors in 1994, it has undergone a series of changes in direction until the present outline was established in 1998. Originally envisaged as a book on food, wine and tourism, it is a testament to the growth of wine tourism and the wider recognition of the interconnections between wine and tourism that this book now focuses almost exclusively on wine and tourism. It is also a book which deliberately positions itself as a serious contribution to our understanding of the wine industry. Indeed, it is remarkable that it is only recently that the business aspects of wine have started to be subject to as much scrutiny as viticulture and oenology and the history and romance of wine. Many books have been written on travelling to and within wine regions but, until now, no book has been written on the implications of that travel. However, we would note that this book is only a start in understanding the subject of wine tourism, as there are many regions, as well as many subjects, which require more attention than space allows us to provide here. If the reader will excuse the pun, this book provides only an introductory tasting of the complexities of wine tourism.