Cycling in Europe is becoming more popular for tourists looking to stay active whilst away. With the love of wine not going anywhere, mixing a cycling holiday with winery visits is a great way to keep both mind and body happy! Whether it’s gliding within the Tuscan rolling hills in Italy, or sipping red with the Rioja French region, there is a wine region in Europe perfect for every keen cyclist.
Here are some of the best wine regions in Europe, to pair up with a cycling adventure.
France
Offering some of the most world-renowned and picturesque wine regions, France is a haven for popular cycling paths across vineyards and wine estate châteaus. The Bordeaux Wine Route is a popular path to cycle on, taking bikers through infamous sub-regions like the UNESCO-protected Site, Saint-Émillion.
Embrace wine tastings at some of the world’s most prestigious estates and head to Boredaux’s city centre, for a visit to the synonymous wine museum.
Burgundy, translated to Bourgogne, covers key wine-production villages, from Dijon to Santenay. With the capital, Dijon, home to historic buildings and famous delicacy shopping districts, see a plethora of vineyards, ancient cellars, and local markets.
Meanwhile, the Loire Valley trail follows the Loire River, so makes for idyllic flat land cycling through postcard-prefect landscapes. Visit Samur here, to taste flavorsome sparkling wines, or Sancerre if you’re partial to a Sauvignon Blanc and panoramic hilltop views.
Spain
Rich red wine culture in particular flows through the capital of Sangria production. With so many wine regions on offer, cycling tours of the country are efficient ways to discover a plethora of regions, with key highlights in each.
The most known region, La Rioja, is filled with bustling countryside villages and country roads with designated cycle paths that meander through vineyards and rolling hills alike. The capital, Haro, is known for numerous wineries and even an annual Wine Festival that brings together its vibrant tapas scene with wine delights.
For underground, cozy cellars, visit Laguardia within the La Rioja area, and take it to medieval façades and stunning landscapes. The region nearest to Barcelona is known as Catalonia, and this is synonymous with sparkling cava wine production. The heart of this production, lies in the village of Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, with many wineries finding home here and offering a range of tours and tastings.
For more challenging rides up ascending hills, Montserrat is a nearby mountain with a famous monastery. The uphill climbs here are challenging for experienced cyclists to take on, and the top brings spectacular views across the region below.
Portugal
If a Portuguese paradise is on the cards, the Douro Valley is no exception to immaculate wine production and countless vineyards. Labelled as one of the most scenic wine regions in the whole world, makes for cascading vineyards with iconic terraced roofing, on the Duoro Riverside. For the best routes and terrains here, embark on tailor-made cycling tours where you can meet fellow cyclists and discover wine enthusiasts from all over the world.
Another region in Portugal for the perfect merge of winery and cycling is Vinho Verde. Located in the northwest of the country, lies lush greenery intertwined with rolling hills and river networks. Generally gentle routes make the region well-suited for novices wanting more leisurely rides. Ponte de Lima within this area, is one of Portugal’s oldest towns, synonymous with Roman history and architecture, as well as stunning local wines.
UK
Increasingly being recognised for wine production, the UK is fast becoming another European hotspot for wine enthusiasts, alongside those hoping to devour an active retreat of cycling. The Southeast English landscape is considered to be the best wine region in the country, with counties like Surrey, Sussex, and Kent being synonymous with distinct wine distilleries.
The UK’s widely wet climate can be a positive thing in enhancing grape growth. The chalky soils of Kent and Surrey combined with higher volumes of rainfall and mild down south temperatures, make for ideal conditions for particularly classic Champagne grape varieties typically found in French regions. Denbies Wine Estate in Surrey is one of the largest key estates across England, offering a range of tours and additional amenities, as well as tastings and even a vineyard train ride.
The rolling hills of Surrey County are also recognised as being of Outstanding Natural Beauty and are surrounded by quaint towns to visit, like Guildford and Dorking. Amble among cobblestone streets as breaks between diverse cycle routes and wondrous wine tasting.
Italy
Diverse and historic wine regions in Italy, are world-renowned for their picturesque landscapes, perfect for exploration of traditional quintessence. Expanses of greenery and varied terrains make for the perfect cycle routes too, from the rolling hills of Tuscany on the mainland to the volcanic area of Mount Etna, on the Sicilian island.
The famous wine of Chianti comes from the Tuscan region itself and this provides a great place to start in Italy for a wine escape. The area is known for its enchanting rolling hills rolling behind medieval villages and iconic wineries across a wealth of small towns.
If wine and olive pairings sound like bliss, Tuscany is also home to a haven of olive groves, sprouting all kinds of greens and blacks. Meanwhile, Umbria is famous for key red wines similar to the robust nature of those produced in Spain and offers ascending climbs up to delightful hilltop villages.
Summary
The European continent is a paradise for wine production and a range of cycling routes. Embark on greenery mixed with the reds and whites at your fingertips. Create the perfect wine, and cycling tour, in Europe.
