A Unique Spin on the Wine Tour Experience
Guest Article by Lisa Gilbertson, Owner of Wine de Roads
We truly live in a marvelous place and we love sharing it with locals and tourists alike. But, we do things a little differently than most tour companies…we go by bike!
Wine de Roads was born from our love of adventure, nature and being outside and able to truly take in the places we visit. When we moved our family to the outskirts of Newberg just over four years ago and had no idea we had planted ourselves smack in the middle of prime wine country. We had no intention of ever starting a wine related business but we quickly fell in love with visiting wineries both for the great wines and also for the stunning views they almost all offer.
As we started to have friends and family visit from out of the area, we would take them to visit our favorite spots and occasionally go by bike. We found that on the bikes, we could take the time to really show them all the bounty of the Willamette Valley from the hazelnut orchards to grass seed fields to lavender farms and the vineyards. We were able to truly appreciate the sights, sounds, and smells we encountered.
So, at the end of 2018 we began planning this new venture and opened our doors in April of 2019. Already it has been an amazing ride! We have met so many incredible people from all over the United States.
What does a tour look like? Our standard tour is an all day affair starting about 10:30 and finishing between 4:30 and 5:00. We go to three wineries with lunch provided at our second stop. We start at our shop with education on the area, the AVAs, Oregon Wine and Willamette Valley as well as a safety briefing. Depending on the route, we may drive to the first winery and then hop on the bikes after the first tasting. We always pick people up in our van after the third stop. Along the ride we stop to look at the orchards, fields, pick blackberries when in season, and sometimes make a quick stop at a lavender farm. It is done at a leisurely pace with plenty of time to stop and take pictures.
What wineries do we visit? We obviously have to go to places that have bikeable access but we generally hit smaller wineries that give our guests the chance to really experience what we feel is the best of Oregon Wine Country. We have quite a list of great places we go that vary depending on the route. Some of the routes are mostly downhill, some have sections of gravel, we can throw in some hills
for those that want…we can make a tour work for just about anyone but we gear them to the “energetic beginner”.
What if I can’t ride anymore or the weather is bad? We have a van that comes with us! Our van is there as a support vehicle to pick up wine purchases and or guests that don’t want to ride anymore for whatever reason!
We provide the bikes, helmets, safety vests, water, a snack and lunch! Tasting fees are not included in the tour price.
Who’s ready for an adventure?? We’d love to have you along for a ride!
About the author- Lisa Gilbertson
Lisa Gilbertson is the owner of Wine de Roads (Newberg, OR) along with her husband, Phil Amaya. She is still a practicing physical therapist in addition to operating Wine de Roads. Lisa and Phil have four children that they enjoy experiencing the adventure of life with. When not working you might find them hiking, visiting National Parks, biking, skiing, or paddle boarding.
Who’s ready for an adventure?? We’d love to have you along for a ride!
About the author- Lisa Gilbertson
Lisa Gilbertson is the owner of Wine de Roads (Newberg, OR) along with her husband, Phil Amaya. She is still a practicing physical therapist in addition to operating Wine de Roads. Lisa and Phil have four children that they enjoy experiencing the adventure of life with. When not working you might find them hiking, visiting National Parks, biking, skiing, or paddle boarding.