126 | Cycling World
Top French
Trips to Make
your Own:
Ride and Wine
W
inerist explores some exclusive oenological
activities and helps you discover France’s
most iconic countryside routes by bike
Ride and wine, for a day or a week, on your own or with
your loved ones, along some of the most beautiful wine
routes in the world. What a great opportunity to combine
wine tastings with some sport.
And because France has become an iconic destination for
cycling lovers, we uncover its most iconic bike and wine
routes, along beautiful landscapes and beautiful rivers.
As the love for wine, food and countryside often go hand-
in-hand, we show you where to taste wines from famous
appellations and experience the tranquillity and beauty
of the French romanticised country life, while hopping on
and off your bike.
“A bottle of white, a bottle of red, perhaps a bottle
of ros instead as illy oel used to sing, there is
something for everyone on the way. Here is our selection
of the trendiest tours and regions around the globe
where you can “ride and wine”.
CHAMPAGNE
Champagne is one of the most famous wine regions
in the world. The region itself remains relatively
undiscovered, but has a lot to offer. Reims and its
sumptuous cathedral where the Kings of France used
to be crowned; Epernay, also known as the capital of
Champagne; and Hautvillers, in the cradle of Champagne,
where Dom Perignon started making his famous blend
for the very first time. Cham agne is also easy to access
from London so get on that train (don’t forget your bike)
and make your way to the land of bubbles.
LOIRE VALLEY
The Loire Valley is split into four key sub-regions. The
Nantais is nearest the Atlantic and has a fully maritime
climate with short, mild winters and warm summers.
Anjou-Saumur is in the heartland of the Loire, where the
climate becomes more continental; temperatures can
reach over 30 degrees in summer. Touraine is 200km
inland and sees a mixture of maritime and continental
climates and suffers less from summer drought. inally,
the Central Vineyards, where the famous wines of
Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé are made. The climate here
is continental and somewhat similar to Burgundy, with
severe winters and hot summers.
id you know that the oire is the longest river in rance
Stretched along the mountains of central France right
out to the Atlantic, it is a fascinating region for wine-
making. The variety of climates and wine styles make it
an exciting place for oenophiles to visit, but with it being
such a vast region, it can be hard to narrow down your
choice! However, as the Loire Valley is also one of the
most popular cycling paths in France, combining wine-
tasting and biking is rather easy. Also known as France’s
Garden, the Loire is a delight for cyclists keen on seeing
magnificent chateaux and historic monuments. Thanks
to its landsca e, the oire offers delightful cycling tracks
and is full of beautiful castles that overlook the water or
the vines. Imagine a quick pitstop at one of the oldest
French castles overlooking Allier river, while enjoying
some local cheese.