Let’s be honest. While bike touring is its own reward, a lot of us look forward to that first sip of cold beer or dry wine that comes after the ride.
If your palate takes blissful refuge in artisan libations, then consider these four U.S. tours anchored in regions revered for their wines and beers. Where great beer and wine flow, exceptional food is never far behind.
Finger Lakes: Long lakes and cool vintages
New York: Women’s History in Finger Lakes Wine Country Aug. 2-5, 2025
The Finger Lakes region of upstate New York is a hidden gem for wine and cycling enthusiasts. The area’s long, skinny, glacially carved lakes create the perfect conditions for cool-climate wines, particularly Rieslings. While women’s history sets the stage for this four-day tour, we will ride past scenic farmland and vineyards and have a chance to stop at a winery for lunch. Plus the tour kicks off with an al fresco farm-to-table dinner at the home of a local vegetable grower.
Portland: A city made for bikes and beer
Oregon: Portland’s Roses, Rivers and Rail Trails Aug. 13-18, 2025
Portland is a paradise for craft beer lovers, boasting more than 80 breweries. Oregon’s Willamette Valley is one of the largest hop-growing regions in the country, and brewers have set a new standard for the country, creating complex, hop-forward suds. The Pearl District, where pioneers such as BridgePort Brewing Co. (now closed) and Widmer Brothers kicked off the city’s beer craze in the 1980s, is close to the hotel where we’ll be staying the entire week.
Napa & Sonoma Valleys: Vineyard views and quiet roads
California’s Napa & Sonoma Valleys Sept. 14-19, 2025
Wine grapes have been grown in this scenic paradise since the 1830s, but it was the Paris Tasting of 1976 that made the wine world tip its hat to Napa Valley. We’ll spend time cycling through Napa before heading to Sonoma Valley, the birthplace of the state's wine industry. Sonoma's range of microclimates nurture more than 50 grape varieties. Our rides will bring us to three wine-centric valleys: Russian River, Dry Creek and Alexander. Cheers.
Asheville: Surrounded by mountains, sustained by microbrews
North Carolina: Asheville’s Land of the Sky Oct. 26-31, 2025
With dual forces of a strong local microbrewing community and big-name breweries taking root, it’s no surprise that Asheville earned the title of “Beer City USA” in the 2010s. Before Hurricane Helene traumatized these and other businesses, the city boasted the highest number of breweries per resident. Asheville’s beer community is making a strong comeback, and if you join us this fall, you can be part of the grand recovery. The tour ends with a lunch at our guide Kimberly’s West Asheville home.