Wine Regions

For some people a cycling tour to France wouldn't be complete with seeing vineyards! It is fair to say that on all of our tours except Brittany and Normandy and our Battlefield tours by Bike, you will see grapes growing. Some areas however are better known for their wine and these are them. These are not tours with formal tastings and tutoring of grape styles, but rides where you can indulge in the local viticulture and talk and experiment amongst friends about what you like:

Our Bordeaux Superieur tour takes you around the vineyards of this world famous region, starting in the wonderful city of Bordeaux which is a pleasure to visit (many people come out a day early or stay on, it is so nice). We ride through the main areas such as Marguax, Pauillac, Ste Estephe, Pomerol, St Emilion and Sauternes on this ride, and you can stop where you like for a tasting. On one evening we stay in a working chateau and do a cellar tour, before drinking the wine with our dinner!

Alsace is well known for its wine but less well known as a holiday desination. That's fine by us as it is great cycling country! Quiet roads lead you through famous villages and the blend of French and German architecture is charming. This ride does venture into the Vosges mountains so it is not flat, but have a look at the page and you may find that the combination of exercise and wine will suit you, as it has many riders in the past!

Our Loire Valley Classic ride passes vineyard after vineyard, often stretching as far as the eye can see. Saumur produces sparkling and still wines, then there is St Nicholas de Bourgeuil, Chinon, the refreshing Touraine Sauvignan wines and plenty of other varietties to whet your palate!

Provence and Luberon has hundreds of vineyards and you will ride through Chateuneuf-du-Pape, Vacqueyras, Gigondas and Seguret on the first day alone. Skirting the Cotes de Ventoux  you will later see the tasty Luberon wines from villages like Menerbes and Bonnieux which kept Peter Mayle in red, and of course Provencal Rose is everywhere, and very refreshing too after a day on the bike!