Two-wheeling Wine Country

Dry Creek / Alexander Valley: Start in Healdsburg and go out Westside Road to West Dry Creek Road, then north to Lambert Bridge Road halfway up the valley. Cross over Lambert Bridge to Dry Creek Road, go south to Lytton Springs Road and up over the ridge into Alexander Valley. Cross under 101 and continue through the valley, over the Russian River and either up to Geyserville or straight back down to Healdsburg. Varied terrain, hot in summer, moderate to light car traffic, great wines with an emphasis on cabernet, merlot and zinfandel.

Russian River Valley: From Healdsburg, start out again on Westside Road and wind south for 10 miles, turn onto Wohler Road and go over the Wohler Bridge, go back along River Road to Old Redwood Highway and north back to Healdsburg (or south to Santa Rosa). Traffic can be a bit heavier – and faster – the second half of the tour, so be careful. This is pinot country, with memorable sauvignon blanc and chardonnay and the occasional lot of zinfandel.

Napa Valley: From Calistoga, start slowly down Highway 29 toward St. Helena and Rutherford. This is the “morning route” with lighter traffic than in the afternoon, but it can still be more fumes than fumé. If you’re feeling strong, you can go all the way to Yountville, then cut east across the narrow part of the valley to the Silverado Trail. A bit closer is the Rutherford cutoff, toward Lake Berryessa. Going north back toward Calistoga on the Silverado Trail is a much more interesting ride, with more varied terrain, better views and fewer people. Did we mention the wine?

Keep in mind...

Don’t forget your essentials: sunscreen, road-worthy dark glasses, plenty of water and a snack for extra pickup on the long legs between tasting rooms. Helmets are mandatory on county roads, and always a good idea anyway – that guy in the SUV just may be checking his own wine map instead of keeping an eye on the bike lane.

And, oh yes, your credit card. Although it’s technically okay to go wine tasting without buying anything, it’s not nearly as much fun for anyone. One advantage of going with an organized group or through a company that specializes in bike tours is that you can buy your wines and leave them at the winery – a courtesy van will come pick them up before the end of the day.

Then six months later, when you uncork that Russian River pinot, Rutherford merlot or Rockpile zinfandel by the fireplace, you can enjoy not just the wine, but the knowledge that you earned it.