Picturesque Portugal

Where in the world is Camille?

A view from the road in Portugal
On the road in Portugal creating a new DuVine bike tour! Here’s a sneak preview of what’s to come…
Think Europe, 30 years undisturbed.  The landscapes of the Alentejo are peppered with vineyards, cork trees, fields, hilltop perched villages, and laundry hanging out to dry.  Cobblestone streets are still the common look of all the towns here, making it an interesting cycling experience – no road bikes welcome!  Marble is as common as cinderblock, adding an elegance and feel about the area that leaves one quite impressed.  I really have this image that once upon a time, the streets were paved with marble – road bikes welcomed!

One of the many cork trees
Picture yourself on a bike riding through the country with eucalyptus trees lining the street and shepherds tending to their flocks.  As you wind your way through the narrow streets you are sure to pass old ladies dressed all in black with their wide brimmed matching hats coming back from their gardens, baskets a plenty.  Today I saw a man out walking his 2 goats and a sheep, one of the goats on a leash.  I was too timid to ask where he was going, or where he had come from. Laundry is hung up all will- nilly in parking lots, on stop signs at intersections…you name it…apparently no one is afraid to hide their washing here.  The houses and buildings seem to be a thing of pride,  as they are all well cared for with a fresh coat of white paint and nice colorful trim in either yellow, blue or green.  In the pastures you see lots of sheep, some pigs and cows.
The potential for unforgettable DuVine picnic spots is limitless: be it at the base of an old windmill looking over a fortified town, in the shade of a cork oak forest, on the banks of the border lakes with views of Spain, or in a winery while tasting the best wines the region has to offer (a pretty recent industry for them!)  Amazingly, the top 2 export markets for the wines of the Alentejo are Brazil and Angola!

A potential picnic spot
The roads are a bit bumpy but the rolling hills offer amazing views for miles on end.  The region is the hottest in the country but doesn’t compare to the heat of Spain-its neighbor to the east.  The Atlantic influence keeps the temperatures at a warm but comfortable temperature with a refreshing cool breeze always present.
A  trip to the Alentejo is a discovery of old world charm with a gentle hospitality;  while its food and wine will please your palate’s desire to try something new. So stay tuned for your chance to join us on a bicycle tour in Portugal and discover this untouched region in DuVine style!

So excited to hear about the new destination. Portugal has been on my list of countries to explore and there would not better way than with DuVine. It’s been a few years since my last DuVine trip so I’ll wait anxiously for news of when Portugal will be available. Thanks!

Bring on the Bubbly: A bike tour in Champagne

Everybody knows Champagne – the famous bubbly wine from France. It is the beverage of luxury, the drink of celebration and the nectar of the Kings. DuVine is excited to be offering a bicycle tour in Champagne in 2011. With amazing history and the best sparkling wine in the world, it is the ideal region for your next cycling vacation.

The famous bubbly from France...
As promised to his wife Clotilde, Clovis, the first King of France, converted to Catholicism after victory over Germanic tribes at Tolbiac. This conversion to the Christian faith took place with an historic baptism in the city of Reims, capital of the Champagne region. To honor Clovis, Reims became the coronation site for the French Kings, which has forever increased the cultural richness of the region. Today historical monuments offer windows into the past: a roman arch, an 11th century basilica, a immense cathedral & the 17th century Hôtel de ville.
Over the course of your DuVine Champagne bike tour, we will ride down quiet roads past pastures, through forests and amongst the vines. The warmth of the French countryside and its agricultural history are on display. Rolling hillsides covered in grape production will constantly remind you that this region is all about the world’s most famous sparkling wine – Champagne.

The rolling countryside of Champagne
Although Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier are all used in making the wine, the real hero of Champagne is the process in which it is made. With complex aging and secondary bottle fermentation, the sparkles in Champagne are produced thanks to refined techniques and large amounts of knowledge. The famous monk, Dom Perignon, is wrongly credited with inventing Champagne. In fact, most of his work as the cellar master at a Benedictine Abbey was in preventing this imperfection. He also worked hard to blend grape varietals to improve flavors and consistency in the regional wine; for this hard work, and for improving winemaking in France, he is famous.
Between Epernay and Reims, you’ll have the opportunity to visit a diversity of Champagne houses. Although Champagne is rich with famous estates like Pommery, Veuve-Cliquot, Tattinger, Mumm and Krug, there are also many small grower-producers. And although there are only three grapes and one prominent style of winemaking, the flavors and terroir will allow for large differences in quality and flavor.
Neighboring the Champagne region is the Ardennes – which asserts its influence on the local cuisine. Pork dishes, like andouillette sausages, jambon d’Ardennes and pied de porc are commonly found. So are other delights like tête de veau, boudin blanc and delicious cheeses. Not commonly heralded as the heart of French cooking, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the quality and diversity of the regional cuisine.

Champagne vineyards
Need more reasons to join up with our DuVine exploration in Champagne? Just know that this region is loaded with amazing sites: UNESCO recognizes the Citadel of Reims as a World Heritage site. The Cathedral’s impressive towers are considered National Monuments in France. The regional forests are home to unique and rare flora. Chalky soils allow for expansive underground tunnels and caves that are used to age millions of bottles of wine below your feet. And, of course, the wine will not disappoint.
In true DuVine style, we’ve selected the best hotels and restaurants to round out our new tour in Champagne. Get ready, sign-up and join me in Champagne this June where we can bike, eat, drink and sleep like the Kings of France!
After your adventure, you’ll be able to take a short train to Paris, Belgium or Germany for the continuation of your vacation in Europe.