On November 20th, at 3 p.m., we invite the Kauno Kolegija Higher Education Institution community, tourism sector specialists, and everyone interested in global gastronomy and travel trends to an exclusive open lecture, ‘Flavours as a Journey: Insights into Wine and Food Tourism from Portugal and California’, where internationally recognised scholars will share their insights – Dr Helena Albuquerque (Universidade Portucalense, Portugal) and Dr Matthew J. Stone (California State University, Chico, USA).  

Dr Helena Albuquerque will explore wine tourism across different Portuguese regions, highlighting how terroir, local traditions, and contemporary visitor experiences shape Portugal’s identity as a world-class wine destination. Her presentation will examine regional differences, distinctive wine landscapes, and recent development trends within Portugal’s diverse wine-tourism ecosystem.

Dr. Matthew J. Stone will present key perspectives on global food-tourism trends, examining how culinary experiences influence travel behaviour, shape destination branding, and foster authentic cultural engagement. He will discuss emerging patterns in food-motivated travel – from the rise of culinary storytelling and farm-to-table movements to destination-wide gastronomic strategies i with examples from the United States and other leading regions worldwide.

The lecture is open to students, faculty, tourism professionals, and anyone interested in gastronomy, travel, and global cultural trends.

Following the lecture, participants are invited to stay for a tasting of Lithuanian regional food products, offering an opportunity to experience local flavours and continue conversations in an informal setting.

We are pleased to present our general sponsor –Putinų sirupas’, a family-owned Lithuanian brand rooted in long-standing traditions of cultivating viburnum berries and crafting natural berry products based on honoured recipes. Today, the family continues this inherited craftsmanship by producing pure, artisanal viburnum syrup and other berry-based products made from fruit grown on their own farm.

Date and time: November 20th 3 p.m.

Location: Kauno Kolegija, Pramonės pr. 22, Room 1-57

Event organised by: Department of Tourism and Leisure Management, Faculty of Business, Kauno kolegija.

* Terroir – a set of natural and human factors (soil, climate, microclimate, relief, traditions) determining the taste and character of a product, especially wine.

The event will be photographed and filmed, therefore we inform you that you may be visible in the event photos or video recordings, which may be publicly posted in publicly accessible places: on social networks, in the media, and in further event communication.