Frequently Asked Questions

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Is this a group tour? Will my husband and I be combined with an existing tour?

No. All our tours are private. Just you and your husband or however many you have in your party/group. We work with you in advance to curate the day you are looking for. How far do you want to ride? How many wineries do you want to visit? Which varietals of wine would you like to taste? We set up the day the way you want. Doing private tours, paying attention to the details, and 16 years of experience is the reason most guests tell us “this was the best day of our vacation!”

Should we take the E-bikes? We want to get some exercise!

  • Our e-bikes are “pedal assist”, meaning you have to pedal, no throttle.
  • You, as the rider of the e-bike, control the level of assist, from 0 assist to level 5, lots of assist.
  • The e-bikes are heavy, roughly 50 lbs. If you want exercise, don’t use the assist, you’ll get plenty of exercise.
  • Using the e-bikes gives us the ability to ride farther, see more of our beautiful area.
  • Taking the e-bikes removes the “grind” out of the rolling hills. Adds another layer of fun!

Do you serve sandwiches for lunch? Can you accommodate vegetarian & vegan?

  • No we don’t serve sandwiches; we love food, and no better place to enjoy food than outdoors at one of our winery partners. We give you the option of chicken, salmon, beef, or vegetarian. You each can pick one.
  • In addition to these protein options, we serve local cheese, green salad, pasta salad, hummus and veggies, for the vegetarians, and my favorite dessert!
  • Yes, we can provide menu options for vegetarian and vegan.

Questions?

Call or text 707 326 0236

Email dave@adventureincycling.com

When is the Best Time to visit Napa Sonoma Wine Country

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The #1 time to come is when your schedule allows. 

November through March is our “Offseason.” Also known as our “rain season”. Napa and Sonoma are in Northern California, not sunny Southern California with beaches and surfing. We get on average 30 inches of rain, just a little less than Seattle. Winter temps are 50’s & 60’s during the day and 30’s & 40’s at night.

  • Make the most of discounted accommodations, tastings, and tours.
  • Experience a more relaxed and personal atmosphere at wineries and tasting rooms.
  • Visit smaller, family-owned wineries or join special winter tastings.
  • It’s easier to secure reservations at top restaurants

April, May, June The weather starts to get better, warmer, chance of rain decreases, the days are longer, and the vines start to grow rapidly, as the temps spike up. Once the rain stops, the beautiful green hills and grasses turn brown but the vines provide the color.  Temps are 45 to 75 in April and May, 50 to 85 in June.

As more people start to visit the area, hotel, B&B prices start to inch up, the prime restaurant reservation times get tougher to secure. I always recommend, make your dinner reservations as far out as they’ll take them. That way you can eat from 6:00 to 8:00 pm not get stuck with the 4:30 or 9:00 time.

July, August, September, no rain, no humidity, no bugs, 55 degrees overnight, 90’s during the day. We do get a few very hot days each year, where the temps get over 100.  Hottest part of the day is from 3:00 to 6:00. After 6:00 temps start going down. You’ll need a sweater at 8:00 pm. Cool mornings and hot afternoons are perfect growing conditions for grapes.

  • This is “High Season”. Hotel rates highest, tough to get a reservation for the weekends
  • Try and come during the weekdays
  • Grapes start to develop sugar and turn color, called Veraison
  • Chardonnay & Pinot grapes get picked as early as July to make Sparkling Wine
  • These grapes & Sav Blanc, Zinfandel, Malbec will get picked for still wines by the end of September

October is my favorite month. The hot days are behind us, averaging 45 to 77. After the grapes are picked, the vines to go dormant for the winter, which creates the fall colors. Cabernet Sauvignon are the last grapes to get picked. Fingers crossed that no natural disaster hits, frost or long spell of rain or unnatural disaster, fire, that prevents the grapes from getting harvested.

  • Fall colors
  • Grape picking, processing, lots of added activity going on
  • Wine making, many of our small winery partners will let you in behind the curtains to watch

Custom Group Tours

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It has been a busy and fun tour season to date. Thank you to all who have been out with us and to those who have recommended us to their friends! We’ve had a bachelorette party, a bachelor party, families, multi-day tours, road bike rides, birthdays, anniversaries, a honeymoon return visitors, and new guests. Thank you all, we hope you will come back and re-visit us one day soon.

65 % of our business comes from referrals; Thank you! If you know someone coming to wine country, keep us in mind!

Check us out on Facebook and Instagram.

The Grapes of Early Summer

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The 2015 growing season is well on its way. From bare stocks in March, the vines have grown 3 to 4 feet and the grapes are noticeable green berries. All grapes start out green; in the next 30-45 the red grapes will start the process of going from green to red. It is a great time to be in wine country as the grapes are changing. This is the second year in a row that we have received very little rain. We are supposed to get 35 inches, last year we got 5, this year we got 9 inches just about all in one day. The vines get their water through their roots and don’t require a lot of water. The drought of 2014 & 2015 will actually make the wine even better; less water in the berries means more flavor in the grapes. Word is the 2014 wines will be awesome.

Will let you know in a few months when harvest will be. Late September and all of October is a great time to visit wine country!!

West County Ride – Occidental To The Ocean

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Yesterday, Saturday January 10th 2015, Andy and I agreed to meet at Fulton Rd on the Joe Rodota trail, in the flats, half way between Santa Rosa and Sebastopol at 7:15 am for about a five hour ride. Andy rides from his house in Santa Rosa about 8 miles, I drive in my warm car; Andy is from Wisconsin, I, a California boy. I get to our meeting spot a few minutes before Andy and am trying to get acclimated to the foggy, 40 degree temp. When Andy shows up the dew and moisture is dripping off his helmet, he looks cold / it is cold. You try and dress for the elements gloves, face mask, 4 layers, toe covers but it is still cold. Why did I get out of bed to do this??
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West County Ride – Petaluma To Marshall

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I’m sure many of you have heard of, been to, or ridden your bike around the Healdsburg area. Places like the Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley, Chalk Hill, the Russian River, Sebastopol, even Bodega Bay. And if you have not been to these places get out and check out the wineries, restaurants, and natural beauty of the area.I want to share with you an area called West County. It is a large area west of Highway 101 extending out to the Pacific Ocean, south of Bodega Bay down Hwy 1 to Stinson Beach.
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The Grapes in Fall

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The grapes of 2014 have been picked and the wine has been made. How the 2014 vintage will turn out and how it will rank, only time will tell. But the winemakers I’ve talked with say that 2014 could be a special. Why? Because of the drought. This past rain season, November 1st. 2013 to April 1st 2014, we were to get 35 inches and we got 5. Grapes / the vines get their water through their roots and because the ground water was non-existent in the soil, the grapes had less water in them creating a more concentration of flavor. What mother nature provided or didn’t provide will show up in the wine. The colors in the vineyards after harvest have been spectacular!