As I close the books on another fulfilling year at Vine Trail Adventures, I find myself overwhelmed with gratitude. 2025 was a year of exponential growth, meaningful partnerships, and unforgettable cycling adventures. Let me take you through what made 2025 so awesome and share our exciting plans for 2026.
Reflecting on an Extraordinary Year
Our cycling tour clients grew by 10X and we maintained 100% 5-star reviews. Behind those statistics are real people who discovered our world-class road and gravel cycling routes in Napa Valley, Sonoma and Marin County. Our growth was driven not only by their evangelism, but also by our expansion into e-bike tours. This expansion democratized cycling our routes – opening them to clients of all fitness levels and abilities. Corporate groups, in particular, have embraced this option, as it allows teams with varying cycling experience to adventure together without anyone feeling left behind.
And I cannot express enough gratitude to our guides – they’re not just skilled cyclists, but true ambassadors for our region who bring knowledge, enthusiasm, and safety expertise to every adventure.
Showcasing Napa Valley’s World-Class Cycling
One of the highlights of 2025 was launching the inaugural Tour de Calistoga, an event that showcased Napa Valley’s world-class cycling routes while raising funds for the Napa County Bicycle Coalition and the Boys and Girls Clubs of St. Helena and Calistoga. With the generous financial support and partnership of the Calistoga Chamber of Commerce and numerous other sponsors, we welcomed 176 cyclists from across the USA for two days of pure adventure and discovery.
Personal Miles and Professional Growth
On a personal note, I was privileged to cycle over 5,500 miles this year across 4 continents (9 countries), leading tours for both Vine Trail Adventures and the Adventure Cycling Association. Each mile reinforced why I made the transition from tech executive to bike guide – there’s nothing quite like sharing these incredible landscapes and experiences with fellow cycling enthusiasts.
One of my most meaningful rides was participating in the final AIDS/LifeCycle fundraising 545-mile ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles. It reinforced for me cycling’s power to bring people together for causes greater than themselves.
I’ve also begun the process of becoming a Level 3 USA Cycling coach. This will allow me to better support clients interested in improving their cycling abilities, whether they’re preparing for their first century ride or looking to tackle more challenging terrain.
Looking Ahead: 2026 Plans
We recently became an independent travel advisor of Fora Travel, a Virtuoso Member, which opens up incredible possibilities for our clients. Fora has partnerships with over 5,000 properties and tour operators, which enable us to offer exclusive perks to our clients, such as room upgrades. Furthermore, we’re a member of a community of thousands of other travel advisors whom we can tap to design delightful cycling vacations anywhere in the world. As a result, our cycling vacation design can include:
- Luxury lodging arrangements with exclusive perks
- Seamless transportation coordination
- Professional bike rentals and shipping of client’s bikes
- Post-ride recovery spa treatments
- Tours led by us or trusted operators, such as Backroads or smaller local operators
Elevated Local Experiences
In our home territory of Northern California, we’re developing private cycling retreats that take our personalized experiences to new levels. Imagine staying with your cycling posse at a boutique or luxury property with access to private chefs, certified cycling coaches, wellness professionals and even winemakers who are avid cyclists
International Adventures: Spain Awaits
We’re particularly excited about planning our first international cycling retreat in the Priorat region of Spain. This lesser-known gem offers everything we love about wine country cycling: tranquil scenic roads, exceptional wine country dining, and luxury accommodations. The Priorat combines the rugged beauty of Spanish landscapes with world-class wines and cuisine that rival anything you’ll find in Napa Valley or Bordeaux.
If you’re intrigued by the idea of exploring Spanish wine country on two wheels, please contact us to learn more.
An Invitation to Adventure
As we head into 2026, our mission remains the same: designing transformative cycling vacations that connect people with epic landscapes, form new shared memories with friends and further cycling skills and love for adventure on two wheels.
Ready to start planning your 2026 cycling adventure? Reach out or schedule a call to discuss how we can create your personalized cycling vacation tailored to your interests, fitness level, and travel dreams.
Final Appreciation…
We were very grateful to continue to build strong partnerships with luxury hotel partners like Solage, Alila Napa Valley and add new ones, such as Stanly Ranch, Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort & Mineral Spring, Calistoga Spa Hot Springs, Cottage Grove Inn and The Atlas.
And we couldn’t do it without our cycling shop partners – Calistoga Bikeshop, St. Helena Cyclery, Napa Velo and Sports Basement – who have been instrumental in ensuring our guests have access to the perfect bike for their adventure, whether that’s a comfort e-bike for leisurely wine country exploration or a high-performance road bike for avid cyclists seeking challenge.
Finally, the hospitality of our winery partners continues to enhance the experiences we deliver. Olabisi Wines, who leads our Ride with a Winemaker tour, Tedeschi Family Winery, Benessere Vineyards, and Clif Family Winery (yes, as in Clif Bar) don’t just serve outstanding wines – they tell the stories that connect our cyclists to the the terroirs they traverse.
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