La Dolce Vita Wine Tours

Pedal Piedmont

Biking in Barolo and Gavi Wine Country

Trip Notes:

Biking Level of Difficulty

With its long, rolling hills and its charming hilltop towns every few miles, Piedmont is a biker’s idea of heaven. The country roads are nicely paved and without much traffic, and the drivers are very respectful of bikers (having all biked themselves; it’s Italy’s main sport after soccer). The bike routes on PEDAL PIEDMONT are around 50 km/35 miles per day, but since this is a customizable itinerary, we can add or subtract miles (as well as other activities, such as winery visits or cooking lessons), depending on the wishes of your group. Keep in mind that these are hilly miles, so 35 miles might seem longer in the saddle than on the page—or on your club rides, if you live on the flatlands. Though there are places where the climbs continue for several miles, the hills are nicely graded, so the climbs are long rather than steep. Patience, stamina, and a granny gear will do the trick. That said, this is not the place to begin a biking hobby. If you’re not already a biker, we suggest our walking tours as a better alternative for an active vacation.

Airports

Milan’s Malpensa or Linate. Both have convenient airport shuttle buses to Milan’s central train station, the Stazione Centrale (50 minutes from Malpensa, 30 minutes from Linate).

Pre-tour

Plan to land in Italy a day before the tour begins; that’s necessary to be at our starting point on time. Many people spend the preceding night in Milan. For hotel suggestions, email us or consult a good hotel search engine, such as TripAdvisor.com or Venere.com. We recommend staying either near the main train station, called the Stazione Centrale (more convenient for catching the train on Day 1), or in the historic center near the Duomo (more convenient for pre-tour sightseeing). From one area to the other, it's about a 45-minute walk, a few stops on the subway, or a 15-minute taxi ride.

Meeting point

Our meeting point is the train station in Tortona, a small town on the rail line from Milan to Genoa. Assuming you spend the previous night in Milan, you’ll go to Milan’s Stazione Centrale and take the 9 A.M. commuter train to Tortona. (We’ll provide precise train details in your information packet.) It takes less than an hour, and we’ll meet you at the Tortona station. From Tortona, we shuttle to Gavi (about 20 minutes), where the tour gets underway.

Departure day

On our final day, we’ll shuttle you to the Asti train station, the closest town on a main train line. From here, you can return to Milan or head elsewhere.

Italian train schedule

Click here for the Trenitalia schedule in English. Be aware that the schedule is posted just a few months in advance, so if you’re looking for long-range dates, try something sooner, if only to get an idea of departure frequency and trip length.

Trip extensions

Two popular destinations that are within easy reach of Piedmont are the Lake country and the Italian Riviera, including the Cinque Terre. Because Malpensa airport is about halfway between the city of Milan and Lake Como, a pre- or post-tour stay in Como and/or along Lake Maggiore is quite do-able. Alternately, one could go south to the Riviera and Genoa, a working port and the birthplace of Christopher Colombus. Genoa offers a world-class aquarium, a waterfront promenade (designed by architect Renzo Piano, a local son), wonderful art museums housed in 18th palaces, and a fascinating medieval section. Continue further down the coast, and you’ll reach Portofino and the Cinque Terre. Both offer hiking trails and boat excursions, while the Cinque Terre also has scuba diving and public beaches.

Travel insurance

This is recommended to protect you from needless loss caused by last-minute cancellations, lost luggage, and more. One source is Travelex Insurance (800) 228-9792 (please use our compay code: 21-0043 LDV).

Weather

Go to KnowItal.com to find out average temperatures in Piedmont for any week of the year. This site is also useful to see the forecast when you’re packing, as is www.weather.com. Go to to “Asti, Italy” and “Alba, Italy” to see the 7-day forecast.

Reading

Articles by La Dolce Vita Wine Tours cofounder Patricia Thomson:
"Cycling through Piedmont’s Wine Country"
"Nebbiolo and the Allure of Barolo"
"A Piedmont Fable: Barbera"
"Inside Gavi: Piedmont's White Wine Town"