In Conversation with the Founder of DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co

In 1996, Andy Levine started DuVine to share what he had realized during a post-college cycling trip in Burgundy, France: in order to really know a place, you have to know its people, its cafés, its villages, and its cuisine—the good things in life. On that first solo bike tour, Andy learned about wine and met a cast of real, colorful characters who inspired him with their passion. Soon afterward, he started DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co. on a shoestring and a dream.

How and why was DuVine Cycling + Adventure Company developed?

The day after I graduated college, I went to France to ride my bike. The plan was to joyride down to the south of France, and my route brought me through Beaune. But there was something about Burgundy that stopped me in my tracks—the food, the history, the wine, the beauty, the vineyard roads, the weather—and I just had this feeling that everyone had to see this part of France in this way: by bicycle. So in 1995, I set up operations out of a hotel in Beaune, put up a website, and called my little tour company “Du Vin” (or “some wine”) for people who just wanted to bike through the vineyards of the Côte de Beaunes and Côte de Nuit to taste the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. In 1996, my first-ever guests were honeymooners. I went over their route for two weeks and guided them myself. It was an immense amount of work but incredibly fun—I knew then I’d found my life’s work.  

What destinations do you offer and what’s included?

Today, DuVine operates tours in more than 20 countries and 48 distinct regions—mostly in Europe, but also the United States, South America, and Africa. What I love most about our tours is that we bypass major cities and destinations in favor of the less-discovered countryside in these places, providing our guests better roads, greater charm, and maximum authenticity.

In order for travelers to enjoy a true vacation, we think it’s imperative that a DuVine tour is all-inclusive. For that reason, we include a lot compared to other active travel companies: of course, luxury accommodations and all hotel gratuities, luggage transfers, activities on tour, meals, van support, and our expert guides are standard inclusions. We also make it easy to travel light by including a complimentary cycling jersey and t-shirt, helmet, cycling water bottle, and GPS. This in addition to our incredible selection of bikes from brands like Cannondale, Specialized, Colnago, and more—also included in the trip price, though upgrades are available. Local wines are an essential part of the DuVine experience—after all, it’s one of the key reasons I started this company—so we pride ourselves on including every last drop of very special wines at meals, cocktail hours, and tastings.

Do you have to be an experienced biker?

Not at all. DuVine’s mission really is for everyone to see the world by bike. In other words, we believe that bike travel is for everyone. So, we offer a range of itineraries, some better suited to those who may be newer to cycling or active travel, and others designed to satisfy avid riders who want 2,000+ meters of elevation every single day. To help travelers find the trip that’s matched with their comfort level, we rate our trips from Level 1 (leisurely) to Level 4 (challenging). Often, the terrain of a destination is what dictates the cycling level. For example, Holland’s geography is flat and at low elevation, with an extensive network of paved bike paths—it’s a Level 1. Piedmont, Italy is a region known for its hills, surrounded by the Alps and Apennines. It’s what makes the Nebbiolo so remarkable, and it’s also what makes the riding here a Level 3.

But keep in mind—the daily route on most tours usually includes a longer and shorter ride option to help every guest ride the right amount. Those who feel like they want a little more can go out with their guide for the extra miles at the beginning or end of the planned route. Conversely, we often provide an option that skips the after-lunch ride, allowing guests to either travel along with the group in the support van or transfer back to the hotel; maybe they’ve had enough miles for the day or simply want the extra time for amenities or the spa. We all understand that sometimes the bike “gets tired.”

And I can’t speak on this topic without mentioning e-bikes. They have changed the level of accessibility in cycling and opened up this type of travel to so many more people. I think that’s great, and we have plenty of guests using them. Our fleet includes both a hybrid-style e-bike (that is, a bike with wider tires, a stable frame, and flat handlebars for anyone who wants to ride upright) and a road-style e-bike from BMC, which is an amazing addition that really looks and handles like a road bike.

Which are your favorite bike tours?

A question that feels like picking my favorite child! Burgundy will always hold a special place in my heart, of course. But in France I also have a profound connection to Provence. It’s where we base DuVine’s French operations, so our local ties there are really deep. We frequently host our annual guide training in Provence, and each time I go I’m reminded of how consistent the cycling is here. It’s got it all: gorgeous weather, winding roads that seem to go on forever, unbelievably charming towns to stop in for a coffee, some of the best wines in the world, and gastronomy—the French do luxury like no one else.

Over the years, Tuscany has also come to be one of the most classic DuVine destinations. For one thing, cycling is part of Tuscany’s identity with races like the Strade Bianche and L’Eroica, so it’s one of those places where cyclists are welcomed and embraced. But my love of Tuscany has a lot to do with the Italian guide team we’ve grown over the last 25+ years. They’re so warm and welcoming; they love life and their generosity is limitless. In the time I’ve spent cultivating Tuscany as a DuVine destination, I’ve developed so many connections that it feels like home. And our guides have quite literally opened their homes: I love to visit Valentino’s family in the Chianti countryside and have dinner with his mother, Serena. Our guests get this same experience, too—I want them to feel what I feel when I come here.

What are the Specialty Bike tours and which 3 are not-to-be missed?

As I’ve mentioned, food and wine are integral to the style of DuVine travel (our motto and magic formula is BIKE, EAT, DRINK, SLEEP). But Specialty tours are designed to really dive further into the culinary aspect—things like visiting Tuscany during the harvest in order to catch the moment all the grapes are being picked, see how that year’s olio nuovo is pressed, or forage for porcini mushrooms as they come into their short season.

One thing I’m really proud of is the chef-led tours DuVine pioneered over 10 years ago. We call them “Chef on Wheels” tours, and we just introduced three new itineraries for 2025 that are incredible. Guests get to spend a week with a local chef on and off the bike. They’ll learn from the chef during cooking classes and market visits, but they’ll also get a privileged peek behind the curtain thanks to the chef’s relationships. That might mean access to a tasting with their favorite farmers, producers, or winemakers; a VIP table at the Michelin restaurant where that chef trained; or a personal visit with other culinary giants and tastemakers who impacted our Chef’s personal journey.

In 2025 we’re offering a Chef on Wheels trip in Puglia with Chef Giuseppe Franco, who is Apulian by birth but has worked at Alain Ducasse’s Michelin-starred Trattoria Toscano, the Eiffel Tower’s two-Michelin star Le Jules Verne, and as the Chef de Cuisine at Denny Imbroisi’s IDA before accepting a teaching position at L’École Ducasse in Paris.

The second new Chef on Wheels departure is in Provence with Chef Katia Madelbaum. Her culinary career saw her through Paris launching Silencio under the artistic direction of David Lynch and running the Mama Shelter group, but now she’s back in the countryside opening a traditional French bistro and focusing on zero-waste and zero-kilometer cooking. This trip also stays at an amazing boutique property owned by a former DuVine guide.

Last but not least is our Basque Country Chef on Wheels Bike Tour, featuring a Chef who is actually a full-time DuVine guide: Mikel Olaizola. He’s from San Sebastián originally but has worked in Michelin kitchens from Denmark to Tokyo. Not only has he served on the faculty at Basque Culinary Center and collaborated as a culinary scholar on articles for Harvard, MIT Media Lab, and UC Berkeley, he’s a food scientist and R&D specialist. Mikel’s resume is incredible, but the best part about him is how humble and kind he is—anyone who joins this tour is in for some serious magic.

Do you provide activities for guests who might not wish to bike?

The best option for non-riders is a Private tour—in particular, we’ve designed Villa tours for private groups, hosted at a gorgeous villa for the week. The villas are selected for their proximity to fully customizable cycling routes and activities that also appeal to non-riders, like wine tasting, market-going, hiking, or truffle hunting. We can add a private chef, call in a yoga instructor or masseuse, or non-riders can simply spend the day by the pool. It’s full-service and totally flexible, with all the logistics handled by our local guides and Trip Designers, ideal for groups or families with different interests or mixed riding abilities.

For the experienced biker, which is the most challenging tour?

We’ve recently re-launched a collection of Level 4 Challenge Tours that are uniquely designed for serious cyclists. These trips are really meant for someone who wants to ride hard every day and conquer the same HC cols they’ve seen in the Tour de France. We’ve redesigned four itineraries for 2025, each of which faces classic European climbs in the French Alps, Italian Dolomites, Pyrenees, and Switzerland. These are trips designed by cyclists and for cyclists, so the level of support is different from our Level 1-3 tours: all guides are professional level cyclists prepared to provide professional level support. We include laundry service, a custom Rapha x DuVine kit, and Colnago V4 carbon road bike with a Dura-Ace Di2 groupset and Vision carbon wheels—the enthusiast-friendly version of the bike Pogačar rode to victory in the 2024 Tour.

But still, this is DuVine-style travel, so I like to say that guests will “suffer in comfort” on Challenge tours. No matter how hard you ride, the day ends at a luxury hotel with a great bed, full-service spa, beautiful dinner, and a nice glass of wine to relax your legs.

What are the Cycle + Sail tours?

Cycle + Sail tours are our answer to the “bike and barge” concept. We charter a unique style of luxury Turkish yacht called a gulet, and you’ll stay on board the whole week. This alone is such a fantastic model, because not only do you only unpack once—you have a dedicated crew, on-board personal chef, and open bar all for you. Every day, the yacht anchors at a different island in Turkey, Greece, or Croatia and you disembark to ride to a new destination, soaking in all of its Mediterranean beauty by bicycle. In the afternoons, you might jump off the yacht to swim in the secluded harbor where we’ve moored or set sail to the next destination with a glass of Champagne in hand during a spectacular sunset. It’s basically the best possible version of island-hopping for anyone who loves to lean into the balance of working hard on the bike and then playing (or relaxing!) hard on the boat.

What should riders pack?

These trips are easy to pack for because each day follows the same structure. We’ve prepared packing lists for our guests to follow. You’ll want cycling apparel for every day that you’re on the bike—and bike gear is compressive and lightweight, so it takes up little room in your luggage. The cycling kit consists of a cycling jerseys or athletic top; cycling shorts or bibs (the pad called a chamois makes a world of difference when you’re spending several hours a day on the saddle—trust me); athletic or cycling socks; and either sneakers or cycling shoes and pedals if you ride clipped in. Depending on the destination and time of year, it’s also wise to pack layers like arm or leg warmers, a cycling vest/gilet, and/or a lightweight cycling jacket.

Off the bikes, you mostly need dinner attire for each evening. And always pack a swimsuit!

What do you want the Four Hundred member to know about DuVine Cycling + Adventure?

One is this: the thing that makes DuVine unlike many tour operators—let alone cycling tour operators—is the fact that we always employ local guides. In the business of travel, I understand for many reasons—logistically, financially, or otherwise—why many companies do not. But for me, it’s non-negotiable. Our guides must speak the local language, know the roads they’re riding, and have a personal connection to the places where they guide. Obviously, it enhances the guest experience tremendously, but it also does wonders for the satisfaction of the guides: they are proud to be the representative of their country and region, eager to share what they love, and honored to make our guests happy by introducing them to this place that means so much to them.

On a related note, employing local guides is also something we consider a sustainable practice. Employing locals has a ripple effect that stimulates local economies in the communities we visit. But beyond a social impact philosophy, I really wanted DuVine to set an example in the sustainability space. So, in 2022, we became the first 100% carbon-neutral global bike travel company. Bicycling is already one of the most eco-conscious ways you can choose to travel, but our goal is to set an example for our peers in the travel industry to create a greener future. We all want this planet and its rare, beautiful destinations to be preserved for future generations of travelers, and companies like ours must act as an agent of change. Every day we make more progress, even with small changes—that might mean mailing our complimentary jerseys in compostable mailers, switching our cycling bottles to a BPA-free biodegradable version, or returning guest pedals in reusable cloth bags.