Top 5 Winery Destinations for Cyclists

For lovers of both bikes and wine, taking a cycling tour of wineries is a great way to combine two interests. Traveling by bike is a great way to enjoy scenic routes to vineyards. The following are the top five winery destinations for cyclists.

1. Napa Valley, California, USA. Some of the tour options in this area include cycling in the vineyards, for a unique up-close-and-personal experience. Bouchaine Vineyard is one of the stops on many tours, and is located in the Carneros region. Paved country roads around the area provide great biking and Bouchaine’s offers gourmet picnic lunches, featuring tastings of the vineyard’s most delectable wines. The Napa Valley Bike Tours service provides a van driver who will bring back any wine purchased by cyclists during the tour.

2. Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. This scenic area of Southern Germany is home to beautiful vineyards and quaint hamlets, all located along the Germany Wine Ride Cycle Trail. The trail winds 85 kilometers, or 52 miles, and lies adjacent to the German Wine Road ending at the border of France.This part of Germany, the sunniest in Germany, is known for the rolling hills and also exquisite wine, since grapes thrive on slopes.Cyclists will work up a thirst as they travel through the rolling hills and soak in the breath taking scenery of picturesque villages and vineyards.

3. Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. Hawke’s Bay is located on the Te Awanga coast and is known as the premiere winery region in New Zealand. The flat area of the region and short distance between local wineries makes it an excellent area to tour on cycle. Cyclists will visit world class wineries, like Elephant Hill, which features incredible views of the Pacific Ocean.

4. Finger Lakes, New York, USA. Take a tour through these eleven lakes in New York State and cycle beside the Erie Canal and enjoy incredible views of waterfalls, forests and lakes. There are several options for tours in this area, with four or eleven day tour options. Lovers of white wines, in particular, will find the area vineyards divine. Tours usually include well-known vineyards, such as Fox Run and Glendora, as well as family-owned wineries.

5. Saltspring Island, British Columbia. Cycling around the island gives riders a chance to visit local wineries and enjoy local art. The Saltspring Island Winery is famous for its logo “mermaid” wine, and also feature blackberry wine, grown by Northwest Coast blackberries. Island campgrounds boast beautiful views and cyclists who brave the island’s steep hills will be rewarded with panoramic views the mountainous Pacific coast land.

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