From the sun-drenched valleys of Tuscany to the cooler climes of Otago, VBT takes you on a tour of the very best international wine regions—by bicycle.
From the sun-drenched valleys of Tuscany to the cooler climes of Otago, VBT takes you on a tour of the very best international wine regions—by bicycle.
Published on October 1, 2026
By Molly Waldstein, Travel Writer
A good wine is a thing to treasure—whether sipping a light, crisp sauvignon blanc on a veranda by the water or savoring the cigar-box notes of an opulent Bordeaux over a sumptuous candlelit dinner. No matter your preference, there's nothing quite like visiting a fine vineyard and whiling away a sunlit afternoon enjoying a taste of its many elegant vintages. From the sun-drenched valleys of Tuscany to the cooler climes of Otago, VBT takes you on a tour of the very best international wine regions—by bicycle.
European wines are serious business. Sought after and prized the world over, top vintages cost well over $500 per bottle—and up. But do you have to pay so much to get a truly superlative vintage? According to Jeff Bossler, VBT's Field Operations Manager for Northern Europe (and French-wine afficionado), the most enjoyable vintages are often found at boutique wineries for much less than the hefty Grand Cru price tag. "There's much more to a superb wine than just the label," says Jeff. "There are many small French vintners growing vines with incredible expertise and genuine care—and the wines they produce are among the best in the world. Many opulent vintages are hidden in remote châteaux in the countryside—so you have to know where to go!" To find these gems takes real insider knowledge—which is why our local European staff seeks out boutique vineyards in the best wine regions—exploring tasting rooms and oenothèques where wine lovers can find unique inspirational vintages.
Cabernet sauvignon is the international king of the grape. It emerged in Bordeaux in the 17th century as a chance cross between cabernet franc and sauvignon blanc, and it has since traveled further than almost any other varietal. Chile's Valle del Maipo grows some of the most powerful, soft-tannin examples anywhere. On VBT's Chilean Bike Tour along the Coast & Vineyards, you cycle the Maipo and arrive at the Santa Rita estate, where a Chilean sommelier runs a tasting workshop built around your own palate—you blend a wine, then bottle and label it to take home. Earlier in the week the route turns inland through the Valle de Casablanca, the cool coastal valley behind Chile's finest whites. France's southern reds work differently. On VBT's Provence Bike Tour through the Alpilles Region, you ride olive groves and vineyards beneath the limestone peaks of the Alpilles, then taste Côtes du Rhône vintages on a guided tasting in Avignon—grenache and syrah country, where the blend does the work rather than a single dominant grape.
If you're in love with the flavors of pinot noir, nothing beats a trip to the spectacular French wine region, Burgundy. On VBT's Lyon to Provence Bike & River Cruise Tour, you'll cycle through the charming medieval villages and world-renowned vineyards of the Mâconnais and the Côtes du Rhône. As your ship floats down the majestic Rhône river, its splendid chateaux and quaint riverside villages make a delightful backdrop for a tasting of superb local vintages presented by an expert French sommelier. To celebrate the new harvest with the arrival of the Beaujolais nouveau gamay grape, nothing beats VBT's Beaujolais Self-Guided Bike Tour. A Mâcon native, VBT's own Jeff Bossler developed this tour in collaboration with the VBT team—bringing you to the gentle bike paths where Jeff and his family love to cycle on weekends. Jeff's intimate knowledge of the routes led to the discovery of delightful boutique vineyards and châteaux—for a fully-immersive Beaujolais wine and cycling experience. The route also passes through Chardonnay itself, the small Mâconnais village that gave the grape its name, where you can taste the wine where it began. The hills of Italy's Piedmont region are ideal for cultivation of Barolo—a dark, floral varietal that is unique to this region. On VBT's
The hills of Italy's Piedmont region are ideal for cultivation of Barolo—a dark, floral varietal that is unique to this region. On VBT's Piedmont Bike Tour through Langhe & the Riviera, you'll cycle deep into the heart of Barolo country—traversing the famous langa, or rolling hillsides, of this renowned wine region. You'll watch the history of viniculture unfold as you explore the famous Tenuta di Fontanafredda wine cellars and discover the legacy of this show-stopping Italian varietal.
Chianti has rules. To carry the name, a bottle must be at least 80% Sangiovese—a thin-skinned grape that rewards patience and punishes a bad year. Tuscan growers have worked with it for centuries, and the best examples show why the rule exists.
Then there are the Super Tuscans, which ignore it. When producers began blending Sangiovese with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, or dropping it entirely, the results fell outside the classification and were labeled as table wine. They were also very good, and very expensive, and the category eventually had to make room for them. Ask a Tuscan winemaker about it and you will get an opinion.
On VBT's Chianti Bike Tour in Tuscany's Wine Region, you ride the roads between the vineyards where both traditions are still being argued out, glass by glass.
In the heat of summer, nothing beats a chilled glass of white wine or sparkling prosecco—something to help cool off the heat of the day and celebrate a spectacular cycling route. New Zealand's South Island grows wine at the edge of where wine will grow. Central Otago, the country's southernmost region, is planted at elevation on slopes chosen for every hour of sun they catch—conditions that produce taut, high-acid whites alongside the pinot noir the region is best known for. On VBT's New Zealand South Island Bike Tour, you'll ride through the boutique vineyards and cellar doors this region is known for in wine circles. Burgundy's Côte de Beaune is where chardonnay reaches its fullest expression—the slope behind some of the most sought-after white wines in the world. On VBT's Burgundy Bike Tour & Wine Route, you ride the Route des Grands Crus, a UNESCO World Heritage site, past the wine villages of the Côte de Beaune, and stop for a guided vineyard walk and tasting at a château winery in Santenay. Alsace lies on the border of France, Germany, and Switzerland, and has long been coveted by each—and with good reason. Its iconic timbered villages and rolling hills produce many of the world's top Rieslings—encompassing the full-spectrum of dry to sweet. In VBT's Alsace Bike Tour & the Black Forest, you'll cycle La Route Des Vins, and discover a unique culture and landscape at the apex of three countries.
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