Napa Wine-Tasting and Bikes Trip

Reviews

• Jenny Z.

  Russian River Valley Biking & Wineries September 4, 2014

  This is the best way to see wine country! On my 30th birthday, Ari (owner, driver and tour guide) and Ben picked us up from the doorstep of our hotel and thus began one of the most fun days I can remember drinking wine, meeting new people, having random and hilarious conversations and just enjoying the gorgeous wineries and roadside views of the Russian River Valley. We went to 4 wineries, 3 smaller (aka we would have never heard about these on our own most likely) and one large one (Twomey-wow!!) all with gorgeous gardens and views. The lunch was perfect-lots of different veggie and grain based salads, a cheese plate, fresh bread, etc...as a vegetarian the only thing I couldn't eat was the cured meat plate (obviously).
  
  The bike ride ended up being around 10 miles and the last leg of the trip was literally a 2 mile coast....very good idea Ari! I am SO happy my husband and I decided to try this tour and will be recommending it to anyone heading to SF!!
  
  Also, as someone who literally knows nothing about wine tasting or the fancy way of doing things, I was glad that Ari taught us the polite way to ask for a second tasting of wine-just ask to "revisit" it....I highly recommending using this tip:)

• Susanne A.

  Dry Creek Wine and Biking Day Trip August 25, 2014

  Last week we did our second tour with Gears and Grapes. In April we were at the Russian River Tour. It was terrific: the landscape, the wine, the food, the bikes, our tour guide Ari – everything. Now in August two friends visited us and we booked again a tour for four with Gears and Grapes. This time we took the Dry Creek Valley Tour. If it was possible it would have been better. But I think any tour of Gears and Grapes is outstanding. We saw gorgeous gardens and views during this tour. The wineries were unique and beautiful. We enjoyed cycling with the well-maintained light weight Marin bikes. We relished the delicious gourmet lunch and of course the wines. It was a great day and everyone who’d like to experience the wine country is supposed to go with Gears and Grapes. Thank you so much, Arie and Rym, the French intern.

• Selly J.

  Dry Creek Wine and Biking Day Trip August 3, 2014

  This is a must if you like both fitness and wine, my Partner and I did the Dry Creek Tour. The G&G team picked us up from our Hotel in the city and we headed out to Sonoma. The bikes were in real good condition and were easy to ride, I really enjoyed the wineries especially the first one, the wine was top notch. The picnic lunch was delicious and healthy. Great mix of relaxed group of people we had on the day. Cheers guys.

• Ness .

  Napa Wine-Tasting and Bikes Trip July 18, 2014

  Ari was extremely knowledgeable and a pleasure to hang out with for the day. The lunch that she and Rym provided was DIVINE. Really perfect for a hot day drinking and biking! The bikes were in good condition and the wineries were great. Overall very comfortable, laid back, well planned trip through the wineries. We saw 4 very different wineries which was really nice. The people at the Trefethan winery made us feel like we were VIPs and the wine was great. Only constructive criticism...could have used another bottled water at the end of the trip. Strongly recommended!!!

• Josh A.

  Napa Wine-Tasting and Bikes Trip June 30, 2014

  I have been on many a wine tour, but never have i had the experience that i had on the Gears and Grapes tour. While riding my bike between wineries i actually got a feel for the grapes on the vine and what it takes to develop the amazing flavors of a wine. The tour guide is an actual cetified somolier. Her relationship with the winery gave us a tour that no one else was getting. After a nice bike ride we ate a picnic lunch of some of the most healthy and tastey california cuisine you can get.
  
  If you want to really know what it is like to be in the wine counrty, there is only 1 way to do it. Get on a bike, and let the wine country transport you to a wonderful relaxing day.

• Sarah K.

  Napa Wine-Tasting and Bikes Trip June 29, 2014

  This was a great way to see Napa and experience the outdoors. We were dropped off at our first vineyard and from there biked to three more. Ari was alongside to provide background on each winery. She is very knowledgable and we learned a ton from her during this trip. This was a very fun but relaxing trip and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to see Napa a different way. Thanks Ari!

• Alicia R.

  Napa Wine-Tasting and Bikes Trip April 28, 2014

  Couldn't have been happier with our experience. After my husband and I were picked up from our hotel in San Francisco we got to know our tour guides and the other bikers on our van ride to Napa. We got to our first vineyard and had a great relaxed tasting then "got in the saddles" of our bikes for about a 4-5 mile ride to the next vineyard. The weather in April 2014 was beautiful and the views breathtaking. It was about a 3 mile bike ride to the third vineyard. After some tasting at the third vineyard, we sat down for a delicious picnic lunch of meats, cheeses, bread, pasta salad, and wild rice. The bike ride to the last vineyard was about 2-3 miles and we had the most time here to taste and walk around the grounds. By the end of the trip I had felt I had a new group of friends that had made it through this journey together. We have beautiful pics and memories and loved our time biking through Napa.

• Roger S.

  Russian River Valley Biking & Wineries October 18, 2013

  Best way to see the wine country! Agreed. Ari picked us up at our hotel and it was a nice ride out meeting the 5 other people in our group. Ari is a great guide and the equipment was all in fine shape. We really enjoyed every aspect of the tour.
  
  The difficulty level of the ride depends on your fitness level (duh) so it will test you if you have not biked or run lately. Keep in mind you will be drinking a lot of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinots if you choose the Russian River Valley

• R D.

  Russian River Valley Biking & Wineries September 26, 2013

  Can't say enough good things about this trip. I was a bit apprehensive about combining bicycling and wine-tasting, but it was easier and more fun than I imagined. I think the most unique thing about the tour was the cozy and familiar feeling that was made possible by being part of a fairly small group--there were eight on our tour--and actually meeting the owners and winemakers at some of the wineries we visited in Sonoma. The Russian River Valley is beautiful and it was a delight to enjoy it from the perspective of a bicycle. Our guide was very helpful and shared many interesting insights into the history and special features of the area. She also set out an amazingly delicious lunch that we enjoyed at one of the wineries. What a great day it was!

• Chevron .

  Dry Creek Wine and Biking Day Trip September 6, 2013

  What a wonderful day we had! If you are looking to experience wine country by bicycle this is a great way to do it and Gears and Grapes gave us a really lovely day; Ari, our guide was delightful and very knowledgeable; we had beautiful sunshine; the bikes were light and easy to ride and lunch was delicious. As for the wine... Really great variety of wineries, big, small, old, new, fizzy and still! By far the highlight for us was a detour visit to a specific winery we'd mentioned to Ari in passing. We'd told her about our favourite wine (as discovered in a New York restaurent and not available in the UK) and she very kindly arranged for us to stop off there for lunch! (Thank you Ari - such a treat!)
  
  In short, go on a Gears and Grapes tour, it was one of the best bits of our holiday, you won't regret it!

• S C.

  Napa Wine-Tasting and Bikes Trip August 30, 2013

  This day trip was wonderful for my boyfriend and I. We're both active and wanted a tour of Napa that would be different and put us right in the thick of the country. We started the day with a scenic drive from San Francisco, then got to a sparkling wine/champagne vineyard for a nice tasting start to the day. We then got on the bikes and went along roads and vineyards throughout napa to another 3 vineyards. We never biked more than 4-5 miles between and the breeze was nice, so it was perfect weather. At the 3rd vineyard we had a delicious lunch of meat, cheese, bread, a several types of salads...it was great! Would definitely recommend this to anybody who wants a different experience in Napa and be right in the thick of it rather than looking out a small car window. We both loved it!

• Sarah C.

  Russian River Valley Biking & Wineries August 30, 2013

  What a great experience! I would do it again next time we are in the area! Was a little leery of going out on a "tour" excursion- but the small group (ten people I think) was so much fun and the guides made it easy to get to know each other and set a relaxed vibe from the start. Guides were Ari and Francisco. The wineries we visited were smaller family-style places which was also a nice surprise (figured a tour would cater to larger/comercial winereries but was pleasantly surprised!). The picnic lunch was delicious- fresh cheeses and meats, quinoua (sp?) salad, green salad, great breads. I was expecting cold cut sandwiches- this was so much better! Loved the option to leave bottles that we bought along the way (or jackets, etc) in the van that followed us around on the tour. Super time- will really try and make it back soon!