CRITICAL ACCLAIM

Founded over twelve years ago, DuVine Adventures has becoming one of the leading bike tour operators, offer unique and personalized cycling tour in France, Italy, Ireland, Spain, Switzerland, Napa/Sonoma, Chile Argentina and New Zealand.  See below the critical acclaim on DuVine reviewed in such prestigious publications as:Time, Outside, Bicycling, Newsweek Magazine, and the NY Times

June 2, 2008

DuVine Adventures, one of the foremost bike or cycling tour operators in Europe has teamed up with the folks at Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC). PMC is the biggest cancer research recycling event in the world, raising $30 million annually. DuVine is hosting a 7-day challenge through France, exploring villages an vineyards through France's wine country. The tour begins July 28, 2008.

DuVine Adventures, very passionate about finding a cure for cancer through cycling and one of PMC's most enthusiastic supporters, is offering PMC participants steep discounts on an exclusive European cycling tour.

Raise $4,000.00 for the PMC and discover France, pedaling thru famous vineyards and charming villages while making a difference. DuVine Adventures, leaders in cycling tours in France, offers an incredible itinerary, certain to engage senses, nurture curiosity and pamper tastes. The special France PMC bike tour will take place the same days as the Massachusetts Sturbridge to Provincetown ride.

The tour includes cycling through Beaune, Pommard, Volnay, Meursault. Savigny-lès-Beaune and the wine capital of the world, Burgundy. You'll take part in wine tastings, outdoor picnics, visits to chateaux, winemaking tours and more. Another day of cycling includes: the towns of Savigny-lès-Beaune, Aloxe-Corton, Nuits-St.-Georges, Vosne-Romanee and Vougeot & Gilly les Citeaux.

The tour includes accommodations; breakfasts; three lunches; five dinners with wine; wine cellar tastings; entrance fees to historic sites, museums and parks, and all other exclusive-access events featuring guest experts; 27-speed aluminium hybrid bicycle; transportation from rendezvous to final drop-off; gratuities for baggage, porters, and hotel service; baggage transport and much more.

The Pan-Massachusetts Challenge raises money for life-saving cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through an annual bike-a-thon that crosses the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Since its founding in 1980, the PMC has successfully melded support from committed cyclists, volunteers, corporate sponsors and individual contributors. All are essential to the PMC's goal and model: to attain maximum fundraising efficiency while increasing its annual gift. Our hope and aspiration is to provide Dana-Farber's doctors and researchers the necessary resources to discover cures for all cancers.

Luxury Biking Trips, Megan Tillington 2008-04-03

Great trips with wheels, wine and adventure

If Lance Armstrong is any indication, professional bikers are a particularly hardy. The man survived testicular, brain and lung cancer—and went on to win seven consecutive Tour de France races.

Similarly, the owners of bike tour companies seem to share his gritty determination.

Andy Levine is another biker with an interesting story. He spent two years riding all over France before founding DuVine Adventures, a high-end outfitter that offers journeys in Europe, Chile, Argentina and Napa. The concept, he says, is “all about good eating, drinking, sleeping and biking.” Not surprisingly, his tours tend to involve a lot of vineyards, Michelin-starred restaurants and grand châteaux.

Some may be surprised to learn that cuisine is a factor on these physically intensive trips. But as Andy Levine explains, “we want people to experience everything and that includes the fine food.” So, while these trips may be centered around cycling, they’re not just for hardcore athletes. “We’re not a fitness camp or some sort of Tour de France vacation,” he says. “We’re more a Tour de Life.”

DuVine Adventures was honored on Boston Magazines Hip List, January 2008

DuVine Adventures offers deluxe biking tours throughout Europe; France, Italy, Ireland, Spain and Switzerland. Everything that DuVine does - finding the best regions, and creating wonderful settings, providing all the facilities and hospitality you could ever need - it all comes down to giving you a truly outstanding experience.

When you embark on a DuVine Adventure bicycle tour, you won't observe the European countryside through a window. You'll become part of the delightful scenery up close and personal, cycling at your own pace. You'll experience the most scenic routes through vineyards, and olive groves, past cypress trees, and field upon field of lavender, breathing it all in. Glide along country roads in France, Italy and Ireland where you'll be free to roam and explore as a traveler, not a tourist.

 Fitness for Mommies

A Dream Vacation- Cycling in Europe

Passionate people who love what they do are an inspiration to me. I am particularly motivated to meet people who love cycling and yoga and have created a way of life for themselves based on their passion.

Picture yourself riding through beautiful valleys of sunflower and lavender, drinking cappuccino’s, sampling local vineyards, sleeping in fabulous chateaus, and eating the best food of your life.

Our best trips to Italy involved my three favorite things- coffee, cycling, and wine- everyday and every night. During the day, we’d climb huge switchbacks to hilltop mountain towns with names like Elbe and Volterra then eat fabulous lunches, ride home, nap, and off to dinner - local wineries, pasta, roast chicken, and lemoncello to finish the meal and say, “bouna serra”. Those were the best days of our life so far- cycling in Italy. I salivate over those trips! One thing that would have really put icing on the cake would have been yoga- all that cycling makes a body ache. Since we discovered yoga, in combination with cycling, our overall cycling has improved as well as our conditioning.

I’m was so excited to meet Andy Levine, founder of DuVine Adventures, he has created the absolute best that European Vacations need to offer- cycling, yoga, wine, and dining. He says, “athletic minded people deserve and crave athletic vacations.” I am one of those people. We design all of our trips around the bicycle! We honeymooned in Tuscany- riding everyday and eating at our favorite restaurant in Pienza, Latte de Luna, there were 8 tables in the whole restaurant and we had one 3 nights in a row. It was heaven on earth.

Andy has created experiences like these in Italy, Switzerland, France, Chile, Argentina, Ireland, New Zealand and the United States. Honestly, I can’t wait to go on one of his trips! He offers family friendly trips to Ireland, Switzerland, Italy, and France. There is an itinerary for each day that includes twice daily yoga sessions, 20-50 mile bike ride and local food.

“To me, the travel business is the entertainment business. The open road is a theater, the DuVine Adventures trip is a 6 day show with several acts that incorporate a bit of a love story, a drama, lots of good healthy excitement, and hopefully always a happy ending!” Andy’s primary goal is to look after his guests and make sure they have fun. When they leave, their spirits are lifted. “I got into this business because I enjoy seeing people loving life” Andy says “and that will never change, it will only increase.”

Book your cycling vacation now! Europe will open your eyes to new foods, new smells, new ways of life- all of it- worth the time and money. For more information about these trips you can visit the website or contact him directly at info@duvine.com.

11/5/07 Julie Hatfield saddles up on five of the world's best bicycle vacations, far from the madding tourist crowds.

THE PATH TO DuVINE INSPIRATION

BLISS /blis/ n. A state of mind in which you are quietly pedaling a bicycle down a tiny road bordered by poppies and grapevines, having just enjoyed a wine tasting at 10 in the morning. Your basket contains a fresh baguette, chunk of Brie, and a bottle of Chateau-Lascombes Margaux for your upcoming picnique along the Dordogne River. 

Voted Top 10 bike trip by Bicycle Magazine and last year's winner of the Maison de la France Best Special Product Award, the 11-year-old DuVine Adventures has become renowned for its French and European tours, but recently added a new trip to Chile and Argentina. Featuring nine days of cycling in the shadows of the Andes, whitewater rafting down the rapids of the Mendoza River in the main wine-producing area of Argentina, luxury accommodations at a hacienda-style four-star hotel and spa, and a wine train ride in Chile's Colchagua Valley, this is a spectacular trip with a large dose of pampering after a long day's pedaling.

August 15, 2007 Rated #1 pick for Dream Bicycle Trip

DuVine Adventures - A trip with Duvine Adventures is divine, according to friends. The company focuses on deluxe bicycle tours in France, Italy, Spain, Ireland and Switzerland. This fall several bike trips are planned to Tuscany, Italy, France and Spain, plus a Yoga/Bike trip to Provence in October.

TODAY TRAVEL PLUS: TOP NOTES - LAST WORD IN EXTRAVANGT INDULGENCE  | July 2007

For more than a decade DuVine has been organizing deluxe cycling tours against a backdrop of some of the most beautiful landscapes.  Quiet cycling roads in unspoiled villages and locales in different parts of Europe, South American, California, and New Zealand while staying in luxurious hotels and eating gourmet cuisine.

Discover the best in luxury travel, food, wine & shopping!

My uncle took a few bike trips to Europe on the cheap. He would be envious of these offered by DuVine Adventures, a leader in specialized luxury bike trips throughout Europe.
By day, you can experience stunning landscapes and unspoiled villages. By night, you can feast on gourmet cuisine, sip the best wines, and stay at charming chateaux. That’s why TIME Magazine, Bicycling and Outside Magazine all named them one of the top bicycle trips in the Europe.

For ten years, DuVine Adventures has provided the “insider” perspective to Tuscany, Burgundy, Provence, Loire Valley, Bordeaux, Ireland, Spain, Switzerland and more. They say their dinners are as pleasurable as the surrounding scenery. In fact, they often dine at Michelin-starred restaurants and chic bistros. Contact: DuVine Adventures or call 1.888.396.5383.

By Richard P. Carpenter, Globe Correspondent  |  April 1, 2007

Strap up your helmet and slip on your knapsack, it's time to think about biking and hiking -- both wonderful ways to embrace a destination. Offerings like these take you close to places, are healthy exercise, and just plain fun. The wines of the Sonoma and Napa valleys await bikers on Somerville-based DuVine Adventures' California tour. The five-night trip, at $2,895, goes through wine valleys, redwood forests, and the famously rugged Pacific Coast, all within 90 minutes of San Francisco. Included in this moderate-level tour are accommodations, breakfasts plus two lunches and dinners, guide services, spa access at one inn, wine tastings, use of bikes, and baggage transport. Departure dates are May-October.

DuVine is horonered to be awarded the prestigious "Best Special Interest Product Award."  This award was giving out at the Masion de la France annually French Affairs meeting in New Orleans.

Vacation Revolution February 4, 2007

For those who prefer to see as much of Europe as they can without spending half the day on a bus, consider this option. We went with DuVine Adventures, a bicycle tour operator for English-speaking tourists. The itinerary for our France trip included five days of biking through gorgeous countryside, with frequent stops for pictures, wine-tastings and gourmet meals. DuVine Adventures offers tours through France, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, Chile/Argentina, New Zealand and California. Prices start at $2,795. (888-396-5383 or www.duvine .com).

Official website/publication of the French Government Tourist Office

DuVine Adventures, celebrating a decade of excellence in offering cycling vacations to France, announces special offers for summer travel.  Bike, Eat, Drink, Sleep DuVine offers it all in style!  DuVine cycling adventures combine a fun, bon-vivant atmosphere with the pleasures of staying in charming luxury inns and châteaux, dining on gourmet cuisine, tasting world-class wines, and of course, the greatest biking.  On all DuVine tours you live like royalty - cycling on routes through lush valleys, dotted with romantic chateaux and legendary villages once home to the Greeks and Romans. Savor elegant cuisine and local wines; discover art, culture, beauty and the light that inspired Picasso and Van Gogh, all on the seat of a bicycle.   Consider a family escape to the Loire Valley, delightful for children of all ages. Perhaps a spa vacation is more your style? Consider 'Spa on Wheels' biking in Bordeaux, spending the last two nights in an exclusive vinotherapie spa.    Looking for a multi-sport vacation?  DuVine Adventures is offering a special Yoga and Bike vacation in Provence, October 2007.  In addition to your biking, enjoy daily yoga with a premier yoga instructor.  All tours include deluxe accommodations, meals, wine tastings, bikes, guides, van support and relentless customer service.    DuVine Adventures is known for designing unique and personalized cycling itineraries to Burgundy, Provence, Loire, Bordeaux and the Tour de France. They also offer self-guided options, group travel options and private touring options.  For more information about DuVine Adventures and a complete schedule for the 2006 season, please visit the DuVine Adventures website at www.duvine.com or call 888-396-5383.

Tour De PEZ: Wine Country

Friday, July 13, 2007 By Bob Cullinan

About 25km out of Beaune, we roll into the village of Chassagne-Montrachet. It’s time for a lunch break, and it looks like pretty slim pickins in this place, but…as we make a turn through the town, we run smack-dab into this bunch of crazies.

These tourists in the pink togas are all part of a trip organized by DuVine Adventures of Somerville, Massachusetts. There here for the same reasons we are… take in all the sights and sounds of France, and chase the Tour along the way.

We made ‘em a deal…”We’ll put your pics in our PEZ piece, if you feed us lunch.” Pas de problem, oui?

How’s this for a PEZ-worthy roadside lunch? Prosciutto, mozzarella, salad greens, tomatoes, fresh French bread, and…a fine local red wine to wash it all down. Just enough to take the edge off the day, but not enough to hinder or hamper my riding

DuVine Adventures - European Alps Classic
The French Alps are renowned for their stunning scenery complete with beautiful mountains, and pristine lakes and rivers. Well-known bike rides such as Alpe d Huez have 21 marked hairpins with great views over the valley, making the French Alps a world famous destination for cycling. Join DuVine for a week experiencing the classic climbs such as Alpe D'Huez, Col du Galibier, and the Col de la Madeleine. Experience the passion of all the cycling hero, biking along the classic Mountain stages, you will feel like a champion no matter how fast you go. Not only will the scenery amaze you, but you will be overwhelmed with luxury Alpine lodgings, renowned local cuisine, and traditional mountain villages. Spend a week with DuVine riding the classics in style. www.duvine.com

DuVine Adventures Named Best Niche Operator by France, Published on: October 31, 2006    

In New Orleans this past weekend DuVine Adventures, one of the leading cycling tour operators based in the U.S., was awarded the honor of 2006 Best Special Interest Product in France. Maison de la France presented DuVine Adventures with the Best Special Interest Product award, in recognition of DuVine's creative itineraries and unique offers. Maison de la France, publishers of www.franceguide.com, was founded in 1987 and is responsible for the promotion of France worldwide. The award was presented at the annual French Affairs Convention. The award coincides with the release of the 2007 brochure that showcases new destinations, new product and increased departures allowing for more availability. DuVine Adventures has grown from offering seasonal tours to year round availability by including tours to New Zealand, Chile and Argentina in the product line. These tours to New Zealand, Chile and Argentina also include hiking and rafting, classifying as multi-sport and appealing to a new market of travelers. DuVine Adventures has also answered the demand from their international clientele and added tours to Napa and Sonoma Counties in Northern California. In response to overwhelming requests for walking tours, DuVine Adventures will offer walking tours in France, Italy and Ireland in 2007. With the new roster of trips, the total number of countries traveled by DuVine is nine: France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Ireland, Chile, Argentina, New Zealand and United States, operating more than 60 set departures in 2007, company officials said. Deluxe inclusive tours start at $2,795

 Fairy Tale on Wheels: European Cycling Tours, By Kimberley Edgar, August 2006

Imagine cycling through storybook settings, surrounded by breathtaking panoramas and unfettered by luggage and, seemingly, time. Each day the adventure tale unfolds, from rolling vineyards and sprawling fields of lavender and sunflowers to rustic stone churches, cobblestone streets and stately castles and chateaus.

  An incomparable countess, a passionate vintner and an indulging chocolatier are among the cast of characters conspiring to ensure your vacation surpasses expectations and is simply divine.

  If this sounds like a fairytale vacation, it’s not.

  DuVine Adventures has authored a series of cycling tours that have participants eagerly pedaling through the pages in anticipation of coming chapters of carefully scripted surprises.

  “There needs to be some sort of a ‘wow’ factor,” said company President Andy Levine. “Most times, people go and say they went there. We try to make people feel like they’ve lived there.”

  For those looking for the French connection, choose from Provence, Loire, Bordeaux and Burgundy. Others will want to cycle under the Tuscan sun in Italy. Ireland’s pristine Connemara region calls, and Switzerland’s Alps yodel for bikers to cycle through. And Hemingway could not have done Spain’s wine region better justice.

  “Our motto is: Bike. Eat. Drink. Sleep. We put emphasis on all four,” said Alisa de Gaspe Beaubien, DuVine, the Vice President of Marketing.

In its 10th year this Somerville Massachusetts company has distinguished itself by creating a novel synergy between cycling and sampling. Bikers don’t just pedal through picturesque scenery – they taste the best of the region, its foods, wines and accommodations.

  “The cuisine is always local, and it’s always fresh,” Ms. de Gaspe Beaubein said. “Whether you’re eating at a neighborhood bistro or a Michelin-starred restaurant, it’s always going to be amazing.”

  The climax to the trip begins the moment one arrives and extends through the six-day tour of the surrounding countryside, with its impressive architecture and stunning vistas.

  A welcome toast greets participants, who sip from a local label while being suited with a 27-speed hybrid French touring bike and helmet. After a safety talk and map review, participants and guides set out for a slow spin through scenic villages and country lanes. Depending on the tour, one might sample chocolate, wine, olives or cheeses or savor a feast featuring fruit and vegetables fresh from the garden and seasoned with herbs of the region.

And that’s just the first day. It foreshadows memorable moments to come. On one tour, participants will spend an afternoon with Alain, as he shows them how he makes crémant. Another might offer guests a breakfast like none other – watching a seasoned Italian cook rolling the pasta that will be eaten that evening. Guests might listen as a countess shares some local legend and lore. Still another group will enjoy a private tasting where the chocolatier unveils at least 15 different chocolates – each better than the last.

  If she had to single out one thing, the chocolate tasting on the Provence tour was one of the most impressive moments Marissa Dana took home with her.

“The entire trip was amazing,” said Ms. Dana, Boston Magazine’s senior marketing manager. “It was such a great way to see the countryside in a really authentic way but also be well taken care of.”

  She said everything was seamlessly coordinated from before to beyond the trip. She didn’t worry about check-ins, check-outs or luggage transfers.

With a support vehicle sweeping the route to ensure everyone’s needs were met, she didn’t have to lug her purchases around.

  And the welcome she received from the owners of the chateaus, castles, and hotels where she stayed made her feel like a VIP.

  “It was sort of like you were visiting with your friends and family,” Ms. Dana said. “You don’t feel like you’re a tourist.”

  Even though she was part of a larger group, Ms. Dana never felt she sacrificed individual attention, and she was able to take the vacation at her own speed without worrying how it affected the others.

  “This is the best money I have ever spent in my life,” Ms. Dana said.

The denouement begins only as cyclists leave, not wanting to reach the end of this epic vacation.

  That’s what keeps Mr. Levine searching for cycling sequels in the never-ending adventure story and drafting his memorable experiences into trips to share with others.

  “Something happened last year while biking in Tuscany,” Mr. Levine said. “Going down this road, it looked like I was biking in a book or a painting, with the cypress trees and the blue sky. I’ll never forget that view. It went right through me.”

Amateur Traveler
A travel podcast for people who love to travel. It focues on travel stories with a dash of travel news, travel tips and travel resources. Season with humor and serve weekly.

April 16, 2006 The AmateurTraveler interviews Andy Levine the president and founder of DuVine Adventures which has been doing cycling tours of Europe for a decade.  Click to here the podcast inteview with Andy Levine, to download and to listen to the interview (mp3) 

Far from just a pedal fest, bike trips are loaded with luxuries to keep you happy in the saddle
By SALLY S. STICH DENVER 

If bike trip makes you think of roughing it in spandex, think again. The package tours available nowadays are laden with luxuries rivaling those of even the finest hotels — and often actually include the finest hotels. There's everything from a gimmicky offer to meet a real former KGB agent during a cycling trip through Russia to helicopter rides across glaciers in New Zealand to spa treatments in Europe — oh, and there's some biking involved too.

Happy customers like Nancy Serafini, 55, freely admit that the amenities led them to pedaling. Serafini would never have taken the trip through the Burgundy region of France offered by DuVine Adventures of Somerville, Mass., this past June if it hadn't also included two daily yoga sessions. "I'd never been on a bike trip before, but I love yoga," the interior designer from Boston says, "and that's what attracted me." Of course, after a week of cycling through rolling vineyards and lavender fields, she was hooked on biking too. But the yoga seemed to be the real incentive. "I felt pampered physically, emotionally and spiritually," she says.

Relaxation is key. "We used to pack in so many more daily activities," says Andy Levine, owner of DuVine Adventures. "Now we do less and give overstressed customers more time to soak up a region's cultural history — or, conversely, soak up rays at the pool."

Luxurious Rides Here are some of the exotic tours that go well beyond the bike.

RUBBING IT IN
On DuVine Adventures' trip through Provence, cyclists cook dinner with a renowned French chef from Avignon and then sit with him and dine.

As part of DuVine's Bordeaux spa and biking trip, cyclists spend time at a vinotherapy spa, getting Merlot wraps, taking grape baths and enjoying crushed-grape-seed massages. 6 days/5 nights, $3,495.  If a high-end tour interests you, this company is worth checking out:  DUVINE ADVENTURES offers luxury bike trips through Italy and France. Call 888-396-5383 or go to www.duvine.com
From the Nov. 03 issue of TIME magazine

FOCUS ON FRANCE FEBRUARY 2006

Feel the wine in your mouth…and on your arms, legs, face and toes too!     DuVine Adventures proudly releases another sensational season of the aptly nick-named “Spa on Wheels” deluxe cycling vacation to Bordeaux that boasts two nights at the exclusive vinotherapie spa, Les Sources de Caudalie.Whether your tastes run toward snoozing by the vineyard-surrounded outdoor-pool, indulging in a cabernet scrub, experiencing a once-in-a-life-time barrel wine bath, receiving the famous grape pulp massage or luxuriating in a honey/wine body wrap –these treatments are absolutely unique.  These exquisite 6-Day/5-Night adventures are offered May through October and start at $3,295 per person including all chateau accommodations, meals, wine tastings, bike and two local guides.   DuVine Adventures founder Andy Levine is thrilled to be celebrating the 10th anniversary of offering award winning vacations and offers that “DuVine is experiencing impressive growth due to repeat clients and their referrals, as well as great press coverage and travel partners such as travel agents”.    DuVine Adventures is finding a niche by creating lifestyle itineraries that meet clients’ unique requests, such as daily yoga classes or even getting married on bike!  DuVine is also proud winner of the 2005 Best Travel Website by Maison de la France and is a great tool for determining which region of France to visit.   DuVine Adventures also offers spectacular guided and self-guided tours to Burgundy, Loire, Provence.    All tour offerings can be customized for individual or group travelers.  Contact DuVine Adventures at 888-396-5383 or info@duvine.com  

Issue February 2006

DuVine Adventures Offers Customized Cycling Trips to Ireland
DuVine Adventures, an award-winning provider of customized cycling trips, experienced record sales of its trips to Ireland in 2005 and dedicated a permanent spot for the country on its 2006 itinerary.

The company has led thousands of guests on European cycling trips for the past ten years. Six days of moderate cycling through the lush, green Irish countryside. DuVine’s Ireland itinerary offers a blend of activity, history, culture, pampering and Guinness. Clients explore the majestic shoreline of Killary Fjord and enjoy a stop-off in Roundstone village, the most picturesque fishing harbor in Connemara.

“DuVine is focused on customer service and we pay attention to every detail,” said Andy Levine, founder and CEO, DuVine Adventures. “We take pride in the relationships we’ve established with our partners in Ireland and are confident that together we will provide a unique Irish experience for our guests.” Cycling trips to scheduled for 2006 are as follows: May 28 – June 2, June 11 – 16, July 2 – 7, August 27 – September 1, September 17 – 22 and October 1 - 6. Each trip costs $2,995 per person.
DuVine Adventures, 888-396-5383, www.duvine.com

Ann-Marie Seltzer named DuVine Adventures as one of the top picks at the 2006 Boston Wine Expo. 

The French Goverment Tourist Office nominated DuVine Adventures at the French Affairs Gala, 2005 best Web site.

Conde Nast Traveler, April 2005 Feast de France

Outside Magazine, October  Wild France
"Can extreme pleasure and adventure coexist?  Yeah, Baby!   Jump on a bike for a long, winding tour through the gourmet sweet spots of southern France.  We picked the most delectable trips in France, where softcore adventure is combined with hardcore pampering and three outrageously divine meals a day.  DuVine Adventures Bordeaux biking and spa trip, stay in private wine estates, chateaus, and a wine therapy spa, where the specialty is a crushed-grape body wrap."

Readers' Choice Awards Scoring seats at a marquee game is beyond most mortals, but anyone can attend the Tour. And no other sporting event is as intimate and immediate, with thousands of fans lining the roads, fortified by good wine, stinky cheese, and the drama of the world's most demanding race. To put your own rubber to the pavement, sign on with an outfitter. On the easy end are DuVine Adventures's six-day trips, which cover 25 to 45 miles a day, a reasonable amount considering the amount of wine you'll be drinking (from $3,295; 888-396 5383; duvine.com).

Tour de Workplace  November 10
Every day at work employees face complex projects, insane deadlines, and dwindling resources. Many are discouraged by their jobs and need something fun to look forward to. Managers, in an effort to boost morale and inspire workers, are offering their top performers unique incentives to persevere.

Somerville-based DuVine Adventures specializes in luxurious cycling trips in France, Italy and Ireland. DuVine Adventures is building on its success of personalized individual tours to offer unique corporate cycling trips, offering more unique options for CEOs to pamper their most valuable employees.

Fortune 500 companies have turned to DuVine to organize their corporate retreats. DuVine's expert guides take care of every detail, from deluxe accommodations to cycling routes, meals, shopping, wine tasting, and even providing top-of-the-line bicycles. A DuVine adventure does everything for the guests but pedal. They are the leading cycling tour company that weds thrilling rides with exquisite luxury.

Andy Levine, founder and president of DuVine Adventures, also gleans satisfaction from corporate excursions. "We love doing these trips because we know how hard people work, and it is very satisfying to see the happy faces of the employees," Levine said. "Also, it is very humbling -- we feel very lucky that Fortune 500 companies rely on us to make it a very special week. We take pride in that and work tirelessly to make sure everyone feels special."

Traveling Europe by bicycle is the most exciting of all corporate incentives. Earning a deluxe bike trip based on performance is a visible symbol of achievement, prestige, and recognition. Corporate trips are also a great way to create powerful alliances between top employees, and help foster cooperation while breaking a sweat.

Your Tour de France - Go for the Grapes:  August
"We're not all 'Get up and go kill yourself," says Andy Levine President/Founder of DuVine Adventures.  "We believe cycling goes best with other cool stuff. Like wine."  That would explain why the company specializes in moderate-mileage (about 30-40 miles a day) jaunts that allow you to ride (and drink) as much as you like.  DuVine the Tour, DuVine's trips also let you watch three stage races

By Richard P. Carpenter, Globe Staff, Sunday Globe Travel Section   May 2, 2004
....and biking, too DuVine Adventures, based in Somerville, has biking trips through some of France's most celebrated areas: Burgundy, Provence, Loire, and Bordeaux. The Provence trip, for example, is five nights and has several departure dates from May to October. It takes bicyclists to villages, vineyards, chocolatiers, and other scenic sites -- but not too many.

Andy Levine, the company's owner, says that instead of a go-go-go agenda, the trips ''give overstressed customers more time to soak up a region's cultural history, or, conversely, soak up rays at the pool." In all, the groups travel 138 miles, averaging 27.6 miles per day. Included in the $2,795 price are use of 27-speed bicycles; the services of bilingual guides; lodging in deluxe chteaux; all breakfasts, two lunches, and four dinners; wine cellar tastings; use of laptop computers; and other amenities.  Call 888-396-5383 or visit www.duvine.com.

Bicycling Magazine September 2003
Perfect Vacation - Don't Try this at Home:  "Hammer feast.  Hammer again.  Then take a spa and get your chakra read.  All in a days work on a wine-country vacation.  Days of wine and roads."  DuVine Adventures was named one of the top vacations for biking wine trip.

Bike Bits Vol. 6, No. 9, May 5, 2004 
SIMPLY DUVINE
DuVine Adventures, based in Somerville, Massachusetts, offers a slate of great-sounding tours in destinations that include France, Italy, and New England. How about totally immersing yourself in the valleys and hamlets of Tuscany, for instance -- an immersion that will involve olive oil, sheep-milk cheese, and classic wines? Or pedaling in the sunshine and relaxed ambiance of Provence? Click here to find more fodder for your two-wheeled fantasies: http://www.duvine.com

March 20, 2003.  Boston celebrity figure Billy Costa, host of TV Diner invited Andy Levine in to review our biking trips and to discuss our gourmet restaurants. TV DINER talks about the best restaurant & travel reviews.

PERSONAL JOURNAL --- How to Take a Trip in Europe, Sip by Sip
By Rose Marie Burke
19 September 2003  The Wall Street Journal Europe

Here is a selected listing of tour companies offering wine holidays. The one exception is a U.S. firm that organizes wine and cycling routes. They were chosen because they are based in Europe and offer professional tours on the Continent. Professional means the companies either have an established track record, or, for newer ones, are run by wine experts or tour operators native to the wine region. We contacted the companies, questioning them about their experience, the types of tours they offer and the credentials of their guides. All the tours are offered in English and sometimes in other languages, on request. Sometimes tastings and lectures are carried out by the tour's wine expert; sometimes by staff at vineyards with translation by the guide. 

-- DuVine Adventures, a Massachusetts company, specializes in wine tours where clients bicycle their way through wine regions in France and Italy. Contact DuVine at 1-617-776-4441 or info@duvine.com, or see http://www.duvine.com.

____________________________________________

July 23, 2003 Pam Fletcher the energetic reporter came to visit us with her film crew to capture one of our biking groups living the DuVine life in the vineyards/countryside of Bordeaux.  What a great day, lots of laugh and funny interviews.  Our bikers had their 15 minutes.

Armstrong Boosting Business, Attracting Fans to Tour de France
July 22, 2003 (Bloomberg) -- Bikes and Burgundy

While many made their own way to the Tour de France roads, the business of cycling vacations is growing fast, according to Andy Levine, president of Boston-based DuVine Adventures.

Levine organizes trips to gourmet regions of France such as Burgundy and Bordeaux, where clients get to taste the local delicacies, then pedal off the calories the next day. Throw in a sight of the Tour de France, and it's a winning formula, Levine says.

"The Lance story has helped persuade more people to come to France and see the race for themselves,'' Levine said.

NEWSWEEK
June 23 issue — Aren’t you ready to put wartime animosities behind you? Or maybe you’re just ready to watch a Texan kick some French derriere. Whatever the motivation, watch this year’s Tour de France as Lance Armstrong tries for a record- tying, fifth-straight yellow jersey.

At 31, ARMSTRONG still has the strongest legs in Europe . But come July 5 he’ll face tough competition from Germany ’s Jan Ullrich, Italy ’s Gilberto Simoni and Spain ’s Joseba Beloki. (Tip Sheet’s euros are all on Lance, who structures his entire life around le tour. )

It’s the 100th anniversary of this cycling circus, so most guided tours sold out months ago. But you can still snag a slot with DuVine Adventures at www.duvine.com, where seven-day packages cost $3,095. If you’d rather set your own itinerary, Lonely Planet’s $20 “Cycling France” guidebook has great tips. Couch potatoes can always just turn on the Outdoor Life Network for the best domestic TV coverage. There are live broadcasts in the morning, repeats in the afternoon and recaps at night. That’s a lotta spandex. —Paul Tolme 

Americans Still Traveling to France Despite War
March 26, 2003 

BOSTON, Mar 26, 2003 PRNewswire via COMTEX-- Wine boycotts and dicey politics are not discouraging Americans from traveling to France. According to Andy Levine, owner of DuVine Adventures, a leading bike tour operator, bookings for 2003 are exceeding previous years by a significant margin.

"Our clientele does not live in fear, they seem able to put politics aside and book their much-needed vacations. Americans continue to have a love affair with the French countryside," Levine says.

Levine is quick to point out that, "The French people I work with are my friends, and they, like many Americans, don't necessarily agree with the French government's decisions. The French love being hosts and love making great food and wine for travelers. My associates are hopeful that the negative press about France and French products will soon end. They do think George W. needs a French designer to revamp his wardrobe but they otherwise love Americans."

DuVine's bookings increased 25 percent in January and February of 2003. Thus far, bookings in March are at the same pace. Levine attributes the increase in trip bookings to customer referrals and the popularity of its "Tour de France" trip that runs every July.

Luxury bike trip Hot Deals details SPA ON WHEELS
The Deal: Long tradition notwithstanding, vacations aren’t meant to be vacations from diets. When you travel with DuVine Adventures, though, you can enjoy the sybaritic pleasures of foie gras for lunch and crème brûlée for dessert, you can even lounge around four-star chateaux hotels in the evenings with a bottle of the local red without worrying about excess baggage of the caloric kind. Why? You'll be traveling between those hedonistic meals by bike, pedaling at your own pace the footpaths and gentle roads of the Burgundy countryside. The only spare tires you'll have to think about will be the ones carried in the relief van.

Sunday Travel Section 01/05/2003
DuVine Adventures has five Tour programs, with one, for the finish, already sold out. The others start at $3,095 for six days, taking in the start of the race in Paris and cycling (28 to 55 miles a day) through Burgundy and Beaujolais to Lyon, with high-end accommodations, most meals, wine tasting and bikes.
Andy Levine, DuVine's president, said other options, from 8 to 17 days long, included a regular bike tour, followed by a separate trip to see a stage or two of the race; DuVine can help with renting a car and accommodations.

DuVine Adventures was selected by Yahoo Magazine as one of the 50 Most Incredibly Useful Sites for visiting Europe under the section Travel & Recreation.

University of Denver Magazine - Alumni Today Fall 2002
Simply "DuVine"

"I don't sit in the back seat of life," says Andy Levine, BA '92. "It's the front seat all the way." And as president and CEO of DuVine Adventures, Levine's seat of choice is a bike saddle.

In 1994, with a motto of "you live only once so why not do something you love," Levine founded DuVine Adventures, a cycling tour company focusing exclusively on the vineyards of France (Burgundy, Bordeaux, Loire and Provence). Levine's passion for the region began the day after he graduated from DU when he flew to France to work as a biking guide. Armed with this experience, an entrepreneurial spirit and the knowledge that he didn't want to work for anyone else, Levine conceived DuVine Adventures. "It's like a love affair," he says of his business philosophy. "Give my clients a truly unforgettable experience and they'll come back for more."

The affair includes six days of biking, deluxe accommodations, gourmet meals, cultural immersion and plenty of wine sampling in area vineyards. "Bike, eat, drink, sleep" is the DuVine Adventures way, and Levine believes it is this approach that distinguishes his company from others of a similar ilk. "For me, a fully rounded life means keeping the mind balanced, staying fit, eating well, drinking wine, looking at art," he says. "I strive to do it all and I give my clients a complete experience."

Levine's lust for life was fueled at DU where he majored in philosophy, minored in business and found plenty of outlets for his love of the outdoors and vibrant imagination. "I did a lot of creative writing at DU and that creativity helped me come up with the idea for DuVine Adventures."

Clearly, Levine has translated his idea into a successful enterprise. Offering more than 20 guided and self-guided trips annually to clients from all over the world, Levine keeps his expenses to a minimum by hiring French-speaking guides on a contract basis and advertising on the Web.

While he has no immediate plans to radically expand DuVine Adventures, Levine recently added a yoga component to several trips and has begun selling Eurail passes online. He envisions owning a resort in France one day, and with his business savvy and irrepressible joie de vivre, one has little doubt Levine will make this happen.
Article
- Emily Paton Davies

Magazine, May/June 2002
Eating foie gras in Perigord; sipping champagne in Champagne; savoring a slather of unadulterated butter on a real Latin Quarter baguette-experiencing such food and drink is the dream of any chef. But after the fourth lobe of foie gras, it can be the epitome of gluttony.

"At the end of ten days, if you're not used to eating that way, you feel like you have gout,"says Paul Booras, former chef/owner of Olio, whose trip to France with his wife, Julie, left him food-fatigued yet inspired-and with no new spare tire.

His savior? DuVine Tours of Somerville, Mass., a company specializing in bike tours through some of the richest culinary regions of France. For the Boorases, it was biking (and eating) their way through Beaune on the second week of their French honeymoon.

"When you really, really think about it, biking lets you take the most advantage of your vacation," says Booras. "It's a great way to keep your wits and senses up."

DuVine-president Andy Levine calls his company's six-day trips the "Tour de Life." He leads small groups through Burgundy, Provence, Loire, and Bordeaux. Guests pedal to wineries by day and dine by night, varying their meals between mom and pop bistros and fancy (but rarely greater than a two-star Michelin) restaurants.

"We don't necessarily think Michelin-starred restaurants are the only way to go, although most are amazing," says Levine. His top choices are "places where the chef's passion really comes through," regardless of notoriety.

Each day, as a van transports luggage from inn to inn, guests ride off the guilt from the night before.

"If you know how to ride a bike you can do it," says Levine, who notes that 85 percent of travelers DuVine deals with are Americans.

Even Booras, 32, who admittedly doesn't work out, could easily pedal the 25 to 30 daily miles.

DuVine tours start at $2,695 for six days, excluding airfare, and include all meals and overnight accommodations.

Booras says the biking "takes the edge off" the hedonism. "You really need to get out there, stretch your legs a little bit, smell the air, and feel the soil," he says. "It was just beautiful."

Discover Channel
DuVine Adventures is very proud to have been featured by the Discovery Travel Channel on its new episode the "Red Hot Riviera."  If you have the time, we are sure you will enjoy seeing the Discovery Travel Channel film crew follow DuVine Adventures around Provence -- biking, eating, drinking wine, and of course, having a blast!  March 2002

March 12, 2002 Andy Levine, President/Founder was invited into the popular Boston morning television show to discuss the day in the life of doing a bike tour in France.

Bike tour firm rides to success
Bizlines/by Cromwell Schubarth  Thursday, March 21, 2002

Owning a dot-com or a travel business isn't at the top of most people's ``to do'' list.

But Andy Levine, who's had more experience riding bicycles than riding out economic cycles, owns a dot-com travel business that's doing just fine.

Sales at Boston's Duvine Adventures Inc., which specializes in cycling tours of French vineyards, doubled in 2001 and sales are up another 40 percent so far in 2002.

``I have to admit I was nervous after Sept. 11,'' the 32-year-old said this week. ``I personally lost about $25,000 because we had to cancel two trips that were fully booked.''

Levine says staying small and focused on a very narrow niche has helped him survive the post-9/11 downturn that sunk many other travel businesses.

``We are totally focused on our customers, who tend to be fairly adventurous, and they are coming back now that they feel comfortable with traveling again,'' he says. ``We know what makes for a good cycling tour of France and go all out to make it happen.''

Duvine Adventures runs about 17 luxurious trips a year, with up to 14 people on each one living out the company slogan of ``bike, eat, drink, sleep'' in Burgundy, Provence, Loire and Bordeaux.

Duvine tourists ride 20 to 30 miles a day on company-provided bicycles, with a van traveling the route to pick up those who don't feel like cycling on.

``We cater to both the experienced cyclist and those who aren't,'' Levine says. ``With couples, you usually get one of each and need to give both a good experience.''

Levine also organizes no-frills independent bike tours of the same regions and recently added a yoga-bike trip for those interested in something different.

``I keep my expenses as low as possible, hiring French-speaking guides and trip coordinators on a contract basis,'' Levine says. ``We started in 1998, just leading a couple of trips and have grown very slowly, but now it's totally taking off - 2002 has been crazy.''

Levine resisted offers early on to jump Duvine Adventures into the dot-com craze, but Levine resisted.

``We had some high-powered venture capital guys on our tours a couple years ago who told me I should go that route, but it just didn't feel right and I'm glad I didn't,'' Levine says.

Always on the lookout for a new opportunity, Levine also runs a side business selling Eurail passes off his Eurailnet.com Web site.

Ultimately, Levine says he'd like to save up enough to buy a French resort in one of the regions his tours go through.

``I don't know when, but that's what I'd like to do some day,'' he says. ``It's just the best place I know to do what I like.''

Travel Holiday Magazine

Have Corkscrew, Will Pedal:  
You don’t have to be a biker to survive—or enjoy—this Burgundy trip.
by Lisa Passmore

"There is just one thing you need to know before you choose a bike trip—how much you want to bike. Sounds simple, but there are all kinds of cycling adventures, and some will keep you glued to your gel seat, while others let you ride with your bike—in the van. Unless you’re a budding Lance Armstrong, the trip you want has both bikes and breaks—and in that case you should start pedaling around Burgundy’s wine country in France. Why? Because the region is full of things to see on those rests—fields of wildflowers, centuries-old villages, and of course, the vineyards. 

DuVine Adventures offers a five-night tour through the Cote du Beaune and Cote du Nuits for $2,595, which includes most meals, lodging at beautiful inns, guides, luggage transfers, use of a 24-speed bicycle, a van (in case you get tired), and all of your tastings. But the biking is almost incidental—there’s more interest in the pinot noirs and chardonnays than in cardiovascular endurance. Backroads has a similar five-night package for $2,838, but the trip focuses more on biking. 

While DuVine offers a good price for this kind of trip, it’s still expensive— especially when you consider you still need to add on air from the States (figure about $500 for a round-trip ticket form New York to Paris on Air France, plus $55 each way for the high-speed train to Beaune, which DuVine arranges for you). As you’d expect from the price, the hotels and food are over the top.  The inns—often centuries-old chateaus—are spectacular (my favorite was the 10-room Chateau Andre Ziltener in Chambolle-Musigny). Of course, you can’t get too comfortable—you change hotels almost every day. The meals never seem to end. Gourmet dinners—say shallot confit with snails, dorade royale with vegetables, Chinese cabbage fondue, cheese plates, pastries for dessert—at places like Les Millesimes can eat up more energy than your bike.

Your route is a 150-mile loop that begins and ends in Beaune (spring and fall are the best times to go, temperatures are around 75 degrees). You and your guides (one on a bike, one traveling in a van) clock about 27 miles a day, pedaling past Burgundian villages, sprawling farmlands, and acres of red poppies. You can stop wherever you want along the way—you’ll meet up with your group (mine consisted of 10, mostly 30-something, oenophiles) at checkpoints like the Meursault wine shop, Countess Michel de Loisy’s 18th-century wine cellar, and Abbaye de Citeaux, a 900-year-old monastery.  If the terrain gets to be too much—like on day four, the toughest, when you’ll face a steep three-mile climb near the Gevry Grand Cru vineyards—you can always hop in the van. Though you’ll probably need a break from too much food and wine long before you’ll ever need a reprieve from your bike." 

As it is part of our mandate to raise awareness of the online community in the Wine Industry, we are recognizing Companies and Organizations for their efforts in this field.  DuVine Adventures has stood out from the rest of your field as having made major contributions online. As such, we are pleased to present you with a nomination for: The Web Business Award

Entrepreneur's Business Start Ups Magazine

Pedal Pushers

DuVine Adventures, the Somerville, Massachusetts, cycling tour venture founded by Andy Levine in 1994, had a sluggish start, too. Living off a $2,000 loan from his father, Levine, now 30, ran the company, which specializes in tours through the vineyards of France, from his kitchen. Having already established relationships with a bike lender and with family-run châteaus and inns in France, he just needed travelers. Only two people responded to Levine's $400 ad in The Wall Street Journal, leading him to purchase more Internet ad space than he could afford print-wise.

Before long, Levine ditched his night job to focus entirely on DuVine, whose $2,495 packages include accommodations, meals, wine tastings and use of a laptop. Levine was finally able to take a paycheck when sales reached $120,000 in 1998. Last year reaped $180,000. Having zero overhead (he rents everything except his domain name) helps, but amid competition from two tour veterans in France, specializing in Burgundy tours has given DuVine an edge. "Our trips are like baking a fresh loaf of bread," says Levine. "People tell us what they want, and we work with them."

L.A. Bike Tours can thank joining the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and the Los Angeles Bike Coalition as well as an annual bike show for its recent success. They now book tours ($25 to $55 per day, per person) almost daily.

Do they worry about competition? "This isn't a big secret—we take people on bike tours around [Los Angeles]," says Kelly. "But it takes an awful lot of work to get going." If you're doing this abroad, Levine says learning global business etiquette is a must. And if you're doing it locally, Fitzgerald and Kelly warn a lack of networking and bad weather can hurt business. But remember: You get to ride bikes for a living.

TRAVEL & LEISURE "Hot Deals" EMAIL

RIDE, MA CHERIE, RIDE 
by Chris Haines

Ever wonder how people expect to lose weight and increase muscle tone sitting on their grand derrieres at a spa? One wonders how much cellulite a deep massage can actually eradicate. DuVine Adventures has a nouveau approach to fitness and fine dining: a "spa escape on wheels". You can bike through Burgundy, savor gourmet dinners, sip wine, overnight in four-star chateaux, visit museums and meet the locals in the company of bilingual guides. Their October tour de France is scheduled right after harvest time, when—no doubt—the wine will be flowing in abundance. The daily routes average 15-35 miles, off the main roads, over relatively flat terrain, which means that the only twists and turns you experience should come from that last sip of vin rouge—not the geography of la belle France.

BJ's Journal: Business Edition 

Entrepreneurial spirit seems to run in Andy Levine's family.  The 31-year-old grew up in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, watching his dad grow a vending business into a flourishing enterprise.

"My folks wanted me to go into the family business also, explains Andy.  "But I knew I needed to be my own man."  What Andy didn't know was exactly what he was going to do.  "I've always been an entrepreneur, "  Andy says. "Back in school I tried a bunch of things, like organizing art shows and promoting concerts and bike races, but I never seemed to make much money at them."

So when he graduated from the University of Denver back in 1992, Andy decided to take a break from the grueling entrepreneurial world.  He jumped at the opportunity to be a guide for a bike tour company in France.  "I spoke French, I like the outdoors, and I loved living the good life.  Every week of work was like being on vacation for me.

But after being in the business for a while, Andy became convinced that he could do it better.

"Certain people just notice things more, and I'm that person," Andy explains. He recognized that there were upscale clients who really weren't being served by the existing tours.  What if he could put together a vacation package that allowed people to experience France the way he enjoyed it?  What  if people could stop at some of the vineyards for a leisurely afternoon wine tasting, and then drift off to a beautiful chateau tucked away in the idyllic countryside?

"I've always thought that the beauty of travel is knowing a lot and knowing nothing at the same time.  Discovering unexpected treasures and local traditions along the way, but not having to worry about anything.  That's a great vacation!,"  Andy says.

But starting his own company would be an uphill ride for sure.  First of all he was competing with two well-known tour veterans.  And then there was the language barrier.  "My French wasn't that great and I didn't really understand their business culture when I first started out, so building relationships was tough," recalls Andy. 

But that didn't stop him from going it alone.  In 1994 he got a $2,000 loan from his father and converted his kitchen into DuVine Adventures, Inc's international headquarters.  

The most difficult thing for me was working alone, next to the fridge," laughs Andy. "I was always munching on something, waiting for the phone to ring."

He had done all the legwork back in France, established relationships with a bike lender and a number of family-run chateaux and wine estates.  Then, he designed leisurely six-day tours to wind through Burgundy's medieval villages. Two experienced tour guides would travel with a group of 8-12 cyclists who would stay in chateaux and renovated castles, dining at gourmet restaurants along the way.

"It's biking, it's wine, it's gourmet cuisine, it's deluxe accommodations, explains Andy.  "It's not the Tour de France, it's the tour de life."  All he needed now was the clients.

So he did what any savvy executive would do.  He invested in advertising.  "I placed a one-time ad in The Wall Street Journal for $300, sat by the phone all day, and got a total of three calls," he remembers.  Fortunately for Andy, the Internet was just really taking off at the time.  "I decided to spend $400 on a Web site and my phones started to ring," he explains.

"At first, I did not think I'd really make money, " Andy says. "I never thought about the bottom line.  What's helped us is word-of-mouth.  That and our intense focus on customer service."

Rich Remes, a client of Grand Rapids, Michigan, says Andy definitely succeeded. "My vacation was a luxurious, decadent trip through the French countryside," says Rick.  "DuVine made the trip feel like you were biking with friends—discovering new wines, foods, and the unique people who live in Burgundy."

The trick, says Andy, is to make it all seem like a relaxing, spontaneous ride through the French countryside.  "It's like running a theatre production," says Andy.  "You do a lot of organizing behind the scenes so it will all seem seamless to the audience."

His advice to other would-be entrepreneurs is twofold: "First, you  have to understand people and know how to service them,"  Andy advises. "Then, you have to know how to shoot the hole!  To be successful, you just have to go for it. Go on your instincts, and don't ever give up."

Edificerex.com

A sampling of some of the world's best cycling tours
by Marci Alboher Nusbaum 

A relative newcomer to the field, DuVine Adventures focuses exclusively on Burgundy, where owner Andy Levine spent years forming contacts in the local villages. On these six-day tours ($2,595), which include tastings of more than 100 different wines from the rolling Burgundy hills and dining at Michelin-starred restaurants, Levine encourages his clients to set their own pace but leave time for sleeping in a field of sunflowers. As he puts it, "It's the tour de life, not the tour de France."

International Herald Tribune

The Fine Art of Living 

Wine on wheels
DuVine Adventures, run out of Somerville, Massachusetts, offers a six-day Burgundy Adventure that takes seriously not only the art of wine-making but also the art of living. Armed with maps and custom-made 21-speed mountain bikes and accompanied by knowledgeable guides, travelers cycle through the rolling hills of Burgundy and along the Rue du Grand Cru, stopping to explore legendary châteaux and ancient cellars as well as taste over 100 regional wines, ranging from Pinot Noir to Chardonnay. If the prospect sounds exhausting, there's ample time for relaxation at Michelin-starred restaurants and charming country inns.

Boston Business Journal
Bon vivant on a bike
by Roberta Holland

"It's biking, it's wine, it's gourmet cuisine and it's deluxe accommodations," Levine said. "It's not the Tour de France, it's the tour de life." And the best part of all is he gets paid to do it. "I took a big leap of faith and did it full time," Levine said. "I wasn't sure I could support myself, but I had faith in (America Online), I had faith in Yahoo. It's cheap to do business over the Internet." Levine said his clientele is not made up of hard-core athletes, with groups traveling about 30 miles a day. Clients range in age from 29 to 65, he said, with many couples taking the tours. Most of his customers are Americans, but he also draws people from Canada, Australia and Sweden. The company provides 21-gear rental bikes with a van to transport the luggage to the different stops along the way. Levine is expanding the services he offers, helping his customers obtain rental cars in France or European rail passes if they want to extend their vacation. "I'm different than a travel agent—I'm a traveler," Levine said. "I'm a small company. I can give people (tips) how to really travel right. I want them to do it right, so they feel like they know their way around." Levine said he tries to educate his clients about wines on the trip. His goal is to enable them to know what wines go with what dishes and to be able to choose a good vintage when they return home. Several cycling tour companies cater to different countries, including France. Options range from vigorous mountain biking to leisurely coasting and from self-guided tours to guided versions. "I watched them all," Levine said of other tour companies. "I'm just trying to be different."

Levine said he tries to stand out from the pack by keeping tour groups small and personal, as well as keeping his clients in contact with the rest of the world while soaking up French culture. Levine sets up e-mail accounts for everyone in his tour group and gives them access from his laptop so they can stay in touch with family, friends and even work. Most of the e-mail that is sent is geared to make friends back home jealous, Levine said. Claudia Esposito of Potomac, Md., gave rave reviews of the DuVine trip she and her husband took in July with a group of friends. The four couples wanted to go together, and Levine organized and led them on a trip just for them.

"We wanted something special," Esposito said. "I have wonderful, wonderful memories and fabulous photos. It was definitely everything we expected and more." Esposito's friends learned of Levine through the Internet. She said they liked the fact that he personalized the tour to their tastes and charged about half as much as some larger tour companies. Esposito said she and her friends had input on everything from how many miles to bike a day to where they wanted to stay. She also praised Levine as a fun and entertaining guide. Levine said people on his tours are always free to linger in one spot a little longer, bike ahead of the group to explore someplace different or venture off on their own. "It's your vacation."

Levine said. "I want to give you the real flavor of Burgundy—the best and the worst." His tours cover six days and five nights, winding through the region's medieval villages and vineyards. The dozen or so people on the tour, with two guides per group, stay in chateaux and renovated castles and dine at gourmet restaurants. Most of the trips are in May, June, September and October.

Stages: The Fidelity Investments Magazine

The Hottest Thing on Two Wheels
by Lisa Jae Predella

On a bicycle tour built for two
What if you love the idea of an organized tour but don't want to be part of a group? Massachusetts residents Jeff & Jan Gariepy turned to DuVine Adventures for the answer. DuVine customized a tour for them through France's Burgundy region. "They set up everything based on what we wanted," says Gariepy. "We stayed at an 11th-century chateau in Beaune, and ate at star Michelin restaurants."

The good news is, a proven tour like this can actually cost less than a group tour. That's because you don't pay for the leader and guide support. It's a self-guided tour. You also save money by paying the price of a hotel room for two people, rather than a set price for each individual, as with a group tour.

DuVine Adventures founder, Andy Levine, previously led bike tours for a larger organization and lived in the heart of Burgundy. He says he developed the contacts, language skills and knowledge for the region to customize a tour for any taste. DuVine also does great 6 day guided tours.

Bicycle touring puts a different spin on a vacation. As Gilbert notes, "When you are on a bike, you become part of the landscape, rather than passing through it behind the window of a car or bus. It's a very rich experience."

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Arlington Advocate

Reviewing the best products of the Boston Wine Expo, 
February 22, 2001
by Anne-Marie Seltzer

DuVine Adventures offers cycling tours in France.  Tour the countryside by day, and feast on gourmet food and wine at dinner, and deluxe accommodations."

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Wine Enthusiast Magazine
Wine Country on Two Wheels
by Bernie Libster  
With nothing but fresh air between you and the vineyards, there is no better way to see wine country than from behind handlebars.
An excellent piece of advice about choosing a destination comes from Andy Levine of DuVine Adventures (888/396-5383; www.duvine.com): Know your terrain. Burgundy, for example, is gently rolling, while Provence, for all the romance surrounding the name, is hilly and windy. Much of the California wine country is easy on the legs, while the Finger Lakes Region of upstate New York has endless “killer” hills.
Other than the obvious conveniences—rental bikes, van shuttles and guides who speak the local language—touring companies offer an in-depth knowledge of a particular area and possibly particular wines. “It takes years to learn where to go,” Levine points out. “We know the area, the differences in the soil. We can get spontaneous tastings because the owners know us. Winemakers are artists and workers. They won’t offer you anything special if you come on your own.”

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