Top Motorcycle Wine Tours & Events 2024
- Alex Johnson
- Feb 19, 2024
- 5 min read
Looking to travel through some wine regions on your next motorcycle trip and want someone else to sort it all out for you? Here are my top picks for organised motorcycle tours and events in wine regions for 2024.
Let’s face it, if you travel to some countries like France, Italy or Spain then it’s almost impossible to avoid seeing vineyards so most guided tours will have you riding past vineyards at some stage and there'll be plenty of decent wine to drink in the evenings. These tours and events though I think add a little something extra and are top of my wish-list for things I’d actually like to do myself.
All of my top picks have an element of trail riding to them but not to worry as they all have an option to have some training or will be easy going.
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Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with any of the tour operators mentioned in this article and I don't receive any commission.
Learn To Trail Ride in Beaujolais
VINTAGE RIDES
BEAUJOLAIS, FRANCE
When: April - July 2024
Start Location: Lyon area, France
Cost: 3 days from €990
Website: www.vintagerides.travel
This tour has been on my wish-list for years and I want to do it even more now since I rode through the Beaujolais cru villages in July 2023 and discovered just how fantastic the region is.
Vintage Rides is a French tour company specialising in retro themed motorcycle experiences in far off lands on Royal Enfield motorcycles. They used to offer more tours in Beaujolais but now they seem to just offer this one which I believe they use as local training ahead of going on one of their big trips.
For the less experienced and dirt curious biker they have a 3 day trail riding tour on Royal Enfield Himalayans starting with a day’s intensive off road training followed by 2 days of riding a mix of on/off road around Beaujolais. You'll get to ride through the cru villages of Beaujolais and along forest trails once used by wine merchants. Don't be put off if you already have some trail riding experience as you'll surely learn some new skills and still get to enjoy the trail riding in Beaujolais. This tour is pillion friendly also. This tour includes hotel with half board and runs from April - July (currently 10 dates available).
Watch the promo video for this trip below:
Weekend "Rally" Through Chianti
EROICI IN MOTO
TUSCANY, ITALY
When: May 17th - 19th 2024
Start Location: Gaiole (Tuscany), Italy
Costs:
Rider participant fee: €175 includes 2 dinners, refreshments, t-shirt, event materials etc
Pillion/passenger participant fee: €135
Optional day of off road training before the event (Friday May 17th): €150
Website: www.eroiciinmoto.it
A few years ago I asked about on Facebook for good motorcycle trails that pass through vineyards and an Italian told me of a white gravel trail in Tuscany, which he referred to as "The Eroica Trail". After a bit of research this turned out to be a famous route for cycling events, L'Eroica and Strada Bianche seemingly the main ones (I'm not a cyclist so don't scream at me if I've messed this up).
Information was sparse about riding this on a motorbike but then I stumbled upon Eroici in Moto who run a really fun looking annual event along the the route. The 208km route is a mix of road and gravel track that will have you riding through vineyards of Chianti, famous wine towns such as Montalcino and stunning Tuscan landscapes such as the Val d'Orcia. I've spent a lot of time in Tuscany and this route looks amazing.
The event starts and finishes in Gaiole in the north of Chianti. Day 1 (Friday) has an optional day of off road training and then there's a dinner in the evening for all the participants. Saturday is the event itself, which after riding the full route you'll finish up back in Gaiole where there's another evening meal. The Sunday plans are to be finalised but seem to involve teaming up with the annual Distinguished Gentleman's Ride in Siena and Florence. The event is possible on any bike except sports bikes and from past photos a number of people do it on classic adventure bikes and scramblers. It's an easy going event that I wouldn't expect to be too challenging as it is only on light gravel and is suitable to pillions. It looks like a lot of fun with a great opportunity to practice your Italian ;-)
If you're flying in then your best bet is to fly to Florence or Pisa and rent a motorcycle in Florence.
If you can't make the event but are in the area then you can always just ride this route on your own and perhaps tie it in with riding the Adventure Country Tracks (ACT) Italy route which runs close to it.
Northern Portugal Off Road Tour
OFF ROAD OFF COURSE
LISBON, PORTUGAL
When: April 11th - 16th, August 16th - 21st + more coming
Start Location: Santarem (outside Lisbon), Portugal
Cost: 6 days from €1430 / €1940 (with bike hire)
Website: www.offroad-offcourse.com
Off Road Off Course is run by Diogo Guerra who is a motorcycle guide and instructor who you may have come across on YouTube. He runs 3 tours but I think his "Northern Odyssey" is most interesting if you're looking to do something wine related. This is a 6 day off road motorcycle tour and while it's not specifically about wine tourism it has a good mix of everything and you'll be riding through forests of cork trees in Alentejo and through the famous Douro Valley known for it's Port wine. This looks like a lot fun and is geared more towards riders with off road riding experience.
The trip includes all meals and accommodation and you can either bring your own bike or rent one (eg Honda CRF300L) from him. This tour could also be a good option if you're road touring though Portugal and fancy doing some off roading too.
Honourable Mentions
Here are a few other great options that didn't quite make the top of my list, mostly due to price:
Porto & Douro Valley Tour
FREERIDE SPIRIT
PORTO, PORTUGAL
Details: Choose from 3 - 6 days (€1695 - €2995), available all year, leaving from Porto - www.freeridespirit.pt
Freeride provide self-guided on-road and guided off-road tours in Portugal designed by ex-professional enduro and Dakar riders. All their tours look fantastic but their Porto & Douro Valley tour is of particular interest as you'll have the opportunity to explore the UNESCO wine region of Douro.
You only need to see Freeride's promo video of 2 riders on KTM adventure bikes barrelling along vineyard roads in the Douro valley to want to go on this trip. This is a tailored self-guided tour where they give you a Sat Nav loaded with your daily routes including alternative routes along gravel trails. The trip includes 4/5 star hotels with half board, a new KTM 1290 with luggage, full Rev'It riding gear and support.
This is definitely a more premium option with a price tag to match.
Portugal & Spain Land of Vineyards Motorcycle Tour
IMT BIKE
SPAIN & PORTUGAL
Details: Sept 21st - Oct 5th 2024, 14 nights (from €6675), leaving from Madrid - www.imtbike.com
This is an all-inclusive fly and ride guided tour which is focussed on visiting many of the best wine regions in Portugal and Spain including the Douro, Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Rueda and Bierzo. The tour takes place just after grape harvest which is a great time to go and the wineries will be a hive of activity. This is the most wine specific motorcycle tour I've come across and looks fantastic but it comes at a price.
