Bordeaux is, arguably, the wine capital of the world. Almost everybody who travels here is into wine. However, the good news about traveling with DuVine is that you don’t need to be a complete wine geek to come to Bordeaux. The food is great and the riding is accessible to all abilities.
The famous vines...
While our Bordeaux bicycle trip, like the region, is obsessed with the nectar of the vines, we make sure to balance our trip with some enjoyable moments that do not involve wine.
This tour is known for delicious meals that, very often, include duck and foie gras. Foodies rejoice over the home cooking by Jackie at Château Carbonneau; everyone is impressed by the delicate preparations by the chefs at Château de Sanse and Château Grand Barrail. The DuVine guides, equally in love with biking and eating, love to prepare exquisite picnics in phenomenal locations. With local specialties, healthy salads and ripe cheese, it is a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach!
Chances to enjoy pastries abound. We regularly visit a little known bakery during the Bordeaux tour. Every morsel is hand-made before being baked in an antique wood fire oven. With a chance to learn about bread making first hand by the baker, it is the perfect place to stop for a snack. Once in Saint Emilion, you’ll rapidly discover the regional specialties of macaroons and canelés. While most people have already enjoyed macaroons in their travels, canelés are still elusive. They are made with egg yolks and the egg whites, traditionally, were used to clarify the wines. You won’t go hungry on your DuVine bike trip to Bordeaux.
The breads of the little known bakery...
DuVine guests often choose to spend their free night in Saint Emilion. Here they can explore a variety of wine shops and historic monuments. Most notable is the Monolithic Church that was carved by Benedictine monks into the limestone cliff in the 11th century. The cloisters of L’Eglise collégiale de Saint Emilion are also worth exploring.
More than just wine...great cycling routes in Bordeaux
The Bordeaux cycling routes are great for less experienced riders. There are some hills, but the majority of the riding is mellow and enjoyable. The mileage is low, but for those interested, optional rides provide extensions for more avid riders. Each day includes extremely scenic rides, many along the edges of the Dordogne river.
This coming season, 2011, we’ve added an all new ride and hotel to further improve this tour. On the fifth day, guests will depart from Saint Emilion, riding through Pomerol and along the Gironde Estuary to Paulliac. On the way, there are many wonderful picnic spots and scenic vistas as well as a relaxing ferry ride. That afternoon, in the famed Haut-Médoc, opportunities for tasting wine abound. Once arriving at Cordeillan Bages, our hotel for the evening, guests will enjoy relaxing in luxury over a Michelin starred meal.
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