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April 28, 2009

Chez DuVine

Filed under: Bike — Bike tour guru @ 3:28 pm

gwenoffice1

This past weekend’s weather was like a breath of fresh air! Forget spring…summer made a welcome appearance here in Boston with record-breaking temperatures in the 80s…such a nice change of pace. It seems fitting that this refreshing and renewing trend is coinciding with our own enlivening renovations here at the DuVine office.

Amidst the craziness of tour season, Andy decided it was a great time to redecorate the office. Hence, it has been a whirlwind of spring cleaning and ‘home’ improvement here at 667 Somerville Ave. Tim, the painter, finally completed the finishing touches last week to a job well done – the place looks amazing. Furninture is back in place, the lingering fumes are dissapating, a sense of order has been returned and a revitalized atmosphere permeates the space.

Check out Gwen chez DuVine.

April 27, 2009

Rioja Spain Cycling Tour

Filed under: Bike, Rioja, Spain — Tags: , , — Bike tour guru @ 8:41 am
Rioja DuVine Day one

Rioja DuVine Day one

This bicycle trip in Rioja Spain goes round one of the most beautiful landscapes of Spain. We start by the river Ebro and head for the river Duero, both places hold two of the best wines in the world: “Rioja and Ribera de Duero”. You´ll be put up in the best accomodation facilities, charming hotels and top class lodges. We’ll drive in our vans as far as reaching the starting points of the most important and interesting areas.

April 22, 2009

Guide Training

Filed under: Bike, European bike tours — Tags: , , — Bike tour guru @ 12:59 pm

Guide training is already well underway in France at our European office and from what we hear, all is going quite well. Here’s a chance to familiarize yourself with the cast of characters – your DuVine guides.

We decided to bridge the gap between the two offices by having a video conference ‘meet and greet’ yesterday morning where new introductions were made and long overdue face-to-face greetings were accomplished. Finally a chance to get the whole DuVine family together at the same time. Even Andy appeared quite content, which is a great sign!

Apparently yesterday featured a packed morning of instruction, an afternoon group ride over the Pont du Gard (photo below) and concluded with a wine tasting earlier in the evening and dinner at les Jarres in Castillon du Gard.

I have yet to hear any updates today, so I’m assuming it has been a very busy Day 3. We’ll have to wait and see what transpired. I will definitely keep you posted on the whereabouts of Andy and his entourage – he sends daily updates to the office here in Boston – but you can also check out the drama as it unfolds on Twitter.

And if you happen to be in and/or around Uzes, Les Baux or St. Remy in Provence – keep an eye out for those DuVine jersey-clad riders.

guides

Bike Trips for all levels: Easy, Medium & Challenging.

Filed under: Bike — Tags: , , — Bike tour guru @ 10:25 am

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We have a bike trip for everyone – from the hardcore cyclist to the weekend cruiser. As long as you have the will and the passion, a DuVine bicycle trip will be the perfect fit for your active vacation.

Every trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and cycling levels. (Remember, biking is only a quarter of the whole DuVine experience.) We recognize that your pace may vary from one day to the next and may be different from that of your fellow traveler(s). With this in mind, we present a range of options and additional services to accommodate your needs. Had enough for the day? The DuVine support van [sag wagon] is always close at hand. Want more? Our accomplished guides are always eager and ready to add on extra miles or climbs. It’s your choice, your ride.

Our trip ratings are based on the following criteria:

Easy
You can expect 3-5 hours of cycling on relatively flat roads with a few manageable hills, averaging 19-28 miles per day. During your bike trip you can expect to gain anywhere from 0 – 500 feet of elevation. You are encouraged to bicycle at your own pace and the DuVine van will always be close by.

Medium
You can expect 3-5 hours of cycling on relatively flat to gently rolling roads, averaging 25-38 miles per day. During your bike trip you can expect to gain anywhere from 500 – 1000 feet of elevation. You are encouraged to bicycle at your own pace and the DuVine van will always be close by.

Challenging
You can expect 3-5 hours of cycling rolling terrain and hillier terrain, averaging 25-38 miles per day. During your bike trip you can expect to gain anywhere from 500 – 2500 feet of elevation. The routes are designed for avid cyclists and include plenty of chances to challenge yourself. You are encouraged to bicycle at your own pace and the DuVine van will always be close by.

April 7, 2009

Visit the Comtesse in Burgundy

Filed under: Bike — Bike tour guru @ 10:27 am
Queen of Burgundy

Queen of Burgundy

Comtesse Christine de Loisy is an institution unto herself in the Nuits-St-Georges area: an internationally traveled, erudite dame d’un certain âge, who is also a well-known oenologist and local historian. The Countess or her daughter Francoise give us a private wonderfully warm welcome and visit to her ancient cellars…and you will become her friend in no time. Visiting with the Comtesse Christine de Loisy while on our Burgundy Bike Trip will be very memorable, and you won’t get a better Burgundy wine experience anywhere!

April 6, 2009

Bike Tour Season Opens

Filed under: Bike — Bike tour guru @ 1:11 pm

coppockWell, it’s opening day here in Boston for the Red Sox at Fenway Park today…a big day for Boston baseball fans – including our very own Tom Coppack. Unfortunately, Tom won’t be at the game, nor even able to catch the game live…as he is in Italy (actually – Puglia) to start another season as one of your DuVine guides.

Hence Tom’s absence (and the lack of baseball fever here in the office) made me realize that Red Sox season coincides with our bike touring season – of which, we are all huge fans! This is a very exciting time of year here at DuVine and I thought you might like to learn a bit more about what that entails and perhaps, share in the enthusiasm.

So…what exactly is happening here as we embark on our 2009 European bicycle tour season? Every day seems like a birthday as the doorbell rings with yet another package filled with great new DuVine gear. New jerseys, tshirts, bike hats, etc [yes, even baseball hats!] are arriving daily to clothe our guides and guests on their upcoming trips.

Gearing up in anticipation of tour season also involves our annual guide training in France, which is set to begin on April 19th. Both veteran and new DuVine guides from all over the world will meet up and join Andy and Camille Dumont (our European manager) for the week to reinvigorate and prepare for their upcoming trips.

We are also simultaneously hosting a promotion with Vitamin Water10 to win a free trip to Napa & Sonoma. If you are a DuViner living out west (Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and Texas) you’re in luck! Stock up and enter for the chance score a trip to California this August.

And that’s just a brief sample of some of the action that is going on here at DuVine. It may be a rainy Monday in Boston but that’s not going to dull the spirit of opening day or the kickoff of bike tour season – for Red Sox/DuVine fans alike.

Oh, and we promised Tom we’d keep him current on his beloved baseball stats, and he has agreed to send us plenty of updates, photos, et al on his bike tours in Italy.

April 4, 2009

Chosen Bike Tour Provider for AARP

Filed under: Bike — Tags: , , , — Bike tour guru @ 10:04 am

AARP is pleased to announce a new provider relationship that will give AARP’s 40+ million members with access to an exclusive discount on deluxe bicycle tours offered throughout Europe and North America.
DuVine Adventures specializes in designing tours for special events, delivering custom trips, multi-sport adventures, yoga bike adventures, family travel, solo travel and self guided tours. DuVine Adventures offers more than 17 deluxe bicycling tours across 10 countries, including destinations in Italy, Spain, France, Switzerland, Ireland, Eastern Europe, South America, Canada and the United States.
AARP members will receive a $75 per person discount off any DuVine Adventures’ scheduled bicycle tour, as well as a complimentary bottle of champagne. Each tour is specifically designed to maintain a sense of balance between adventure and luxury – immersing each traveler in the local culture while providing luxurious accommodations, good food and fine wines.
The relationship with DuVine Adventures also offers AARP members a holistic to unite health and travel – supporting AARP’s commitment to helping people 50+ improve the quality of their lives.

DuVine bike tour guests in Italy

DuVine bike tour guests in Italy

April 3, 2009

DuVine Bicycle Guides

Filed under: Bike — Tags: , , — Bike tour guru @ 1:44 pm

Everyone raves about their DuVine guides. Chosen for their charisma, expertise and passion for the good life, they easliy turn a good tour into an unforgettable experience. Anyone can take you to the most splendid sites, but in the hands of our guides, your bike tour will take on new meaning. Their enthusiasm is contagious; their experience and expert knowledge consistently brings depth, excitement and substance to our travelers.

DuVine Bicycle Tour guides are Top Notch

DuVine Bicycle Tour guides are Top Notch