To engage in the most immersive experience of touring the wine regions of Europe, why not consider cycling and seeing some of the most picturesque areas on the continent? What at first glance may sound tiring and logistically harder, can bring a wide range of plus points, from taking in fewer distractions of busier transport options to the benefits of reduced carbon emissions to the environment, and the renowned mental clarity synonymous with exercise.
For the most intrepid cycling explorers and wine lovers, to novices searching for a new way to travel, a cycling holiday is a worthy candidate. For a deep dive into wine production and education on the significance of wine in some of Europe’s most treasured natural areas, glide on two wheels through the natural world home to vineyards and distilleries. Read on, for all the convincing you need, as to why cycling is the best way to tour the wine regions of Europe.
Exploring Off the Beaten Path
From the most secluded cycle paths to challenging terrains up to secret viewpoints, a two-wheel ride is a perfect way to find hidden treasures within the wine regions. Maybe there’s a truly local and small-scale winery hidden beneath a blanket of tree cover, or maybe heading just out of the wine region itself, will introduce you to quaint villages of cultural heritage and ornate traditions. A bike venture can get to narrow places that bigger four-wheel transport can’t, but with the luxury of being sat down as opposed to being on foot all day. It’s not something to be forgotten.
If riding solo sounds less appealing than being in a pack of fellow cycling enthusiasts, tours on two wheels are a great way to build connections and cycle among other bike lovers. In the key wine region of France, tailored luxury wine tours in Bordeaux are a travel option that ensures you’re seeing the most secluded and unknown winery areas in the region thanks to having a local guide leading the way. Learn the significance of such an infamous wine region and cycle between various small towns and greenery to delve into the local French way. A local guide is a marvelous way to ensure you’re getting the most authentic trip.
Fewer Distractions
Delve into the luxury of fewer distractions in between wine tasting and workshops. No time limits for getting back to coach transfers and the ability to stay in local vineyards for one, or ten. Whatever suits you. Whether you want to become an expert heading up the rolling hills of Tuscany or stay at a leisurely pace at the bottom of Portugal’s Louro Valley, cycling means going at your own pace, during your own chosen time frame. Take in the natural breeze of the fresh air and embrace life on two wheels; with fewer distractions and countless mental well-being benefits, you’re sure to find peace on a cycling venture.
Opportunities to Join Cycling Tours
Whether it’s a luxury escape amid the South of France château wine estates or a retreat of novices mainly excited about tasting Europe’s best beverages, a cycling tour is the best way to create a connection and have the bonus of local experts guiding you through the best areas for your tipple of choice! Research into booking cycling tours to ensure the most suited routes and accommodations for your experience. Leisurely cycle or extreme climbs up to distilleries, there is something for everyone.
Beautiful Natural Surroundings
Europe is a haven of natural beauty home to diverse cultures of wine production and traditions. Amid vast sunlit greenery, mountainous regions, or lake districts, there is a region within the extensive portfolio of wine regions to fulfill the needs of all.
Outside of Paris, Bordeaux is the most infamous wine region of France. A traditional cycling route here is the Bordeaux Wine Route which takes bikers through diverse landscapes within sub-regions. Head to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sain-Émillion, to embark on treasured wine tastings in some of the world’s best estates and stop by the town centre to embrace the quintessence of French culture and heritage. Cycle among the city park, ideal for leisurely meanders through little forests for spotting wildlife native to the region and escaping the nearby urban world.
If you’re craving sangria ‘on tap’, the Spanish wine capital, La Rioja, is a bustling countryside flecked with blooming colour in the springtime especially. Ambient meadows in between local producers bring movie movie-magic feel to your stay.
Getting Out and Active while Exploring
If the temptation to book the cycling holiday isn’t real after all that, the fact that you’re combining culinary pleasures with stunning exercise should be enough of a reason to keep both mind and body happy. Alongside a high range of physical health benefits that exercise brings, the mindset additions of such endorphin release are guaranteed to make the harder terrains worthwhile. With inactivity being announced as a ‘silent killer’, scientific evidence is constantly emerging to showcase the benefits of movement on humankind, and this is only expanding into the travel industry.
For wine connoisseurs across the globe, the regions of Europe are synonymous with beauty and world-class wines. When being on foot gets too mediocre, and cramped public transport offerings are not enticing enough, consider a cycling holiday around the natural beauty of the winery areas to embark on the phenomenon of active tourism.