Viticulture is a worker-placement board game that invites players to step into the world of winemaking in the picturesque setting of Tuscany. As aspiring vineyard owners, players manage their own wineries, planting vines, harvesting grapes, aging wines, and fulfilling orders to earn points. The game combines strategic planning with a touch of luck, as players compete to create the most successful vineyard while navigating seasonal opportunities and challenges.

Worker placement board games trace their origins to the late 20th century, gaining prominence in the early 2000s. The concept involves players assigning limited “workers” (tokens or meeples) to specific action spaces on the board, allowing them to perform tasks like gathering resources, constructing buildings, or advancing objectives, emphasizing strategic planning and resource management. At their core, worker placement board games focus on the management of limited labor resources.

Viticulture the Boardgame revolves around the core principles of economic production: land (represented by vineyards), capital (in this case, Lira), and labor (the workers). By managing these key factors, players gain insight into resource allocation and the strategic decision-making required for business success. Victory in the game is achieved through the accumulation of points, which are primarily earned by fulfilling wine orders. These points can be likened to brand influence and awareness in the wine industry, reflecting the impact of a winery’s reputation and market presence.

Labor allocation serves as the principal means through which actions are activated within the game. In Viticulture, even processes that involve financial transactions, such as hiring an additional worker or acquiring upgrades, necessitate the allocation of labor to execute the tasks, mirroring the interdependence of labor and other resources within the practical operations of the winemaking business.

The game also incorporates other fundamental production factors—capital and land—alongside labor. Land plays a critical role, as players must allocate specific parcels to establish vineyards, reflecting the agricultural principles inherent in winemaking. The game serves not only as entertainment but also as a model that enables players to engage with and better understand the principles of resource allocation and operational management in a competitive environment. This enables participants to observe and analyze the potential consequences of their decisions and actions in a risk-free environment.

Visitor cards, such as wine writers or sommeliers, can be drawn and are an additional feature that players can use, introducing another strategic element to the game. These cards highlight the impact of differentiation factors, which can be leveraged to provide bonuses to the player, emphasizing the importance of utilizing all available resources.

The game incorporates a variety of features that enhance realism, including the ability to generate additional income through value-added activities. For example, players can diversify their farm operations by engaging in tourism or selling grapes directly, rather than solely focusing on grape processing for wine production.

The game’s interactive nature fosters active learning, as players are required to make decisions, and experience their consequences within the constraints of the game environment. This encourages experimentation with strategies and exploration of scenarios, strengthening the player’s understanding. Viticulture incorporates elements of collaboration and competition, simulating real-world interactions such as negotiation and teamwork, while maintaining player engagement through the immersive design.

In the latest edition, two significant shortcomings have been addressed, increasing the game’s authenticity and alignment with real-world wine industry dynamics. First, the introduction of bulk wine sales—without requiring prepackaged orders—reflects the global bulk wine market, where large quantities of unbranded wine are traded. Second, a market influence element has been added, allowing players to allocate resources to establish influence in regional markets, realistically representing the marketing aspect of the wine industry.

Overall, Viticulture is an engaging game for individuals with an interest in the wine industry. It was developed by people who have a passion for the wine industry and a good understanding of how the wine industry works. However, it may not be ideal for newcomers to board gaming, as it aligns with other worker placement games, such as Concordia and Agricola, in terms of complexity. And it may not appeal to the action-oriented gamer, as it takes time to setup your wine production system. Most of the action is toward the end of the game when players are racing to fulfill as many orders as possible to rack up the most points in order to win the game.

Finally, the game holds educational potential as a knowledge transfer tool, offering meaningful analogs for key components within the wine value chain, and illustrating their role in the broader wine industry ecosystem. It is a must-have for a fun change of pace for any wine economist and board game aficionado.