By Robin Esrock

Hats off to those with the good fortune to pedal through Bordeaux, Tuscany, the Loire or Tyrol. With their rolling hills of lush vineyards, historic medieval villages, delectable cheese boards, and summer festivals, these routes are spectacular. Yet wine-country cycling is as much about the change of pace as it is about the wine. You slow the world down and engage all your senses, to truly feel the exhilaration of the outdoors. Anyone will tell you wine, beer or cider tastes better after kilometres of moderate exercise, and this is as true in Europe as it is anywhere else. With the increasing cost of airfare, North Americans are looking closer to home. And while Pedal-and-Sip adventures in Canada haven’t been around as long as their European counterparts, they’ve been around long enough to offer world-class routes and itineraries.

Niagara Escarpment, ON

Cyclists in Ontario have long gravitated toward the wine trails that cut through the Niagara Peninsula, mostly running between Lake Ontario and the escarpment. The terrain is largely flat, punctuated by gentle rolling hills and neat lines of vines. There are seasonal farm stands, excellent restaurants, sunny patios, breweries, and nearly one hundred wineries all within striking distance from the trail. This includes the Niagara River Recreation Trail that connects Fort Erie to Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Benefitting from the great lake’s micro-climate, visiting riders are consistently surprised by the region’s natural beauty, and the quality of its products. Niagara's cool-climate icewine is world-class, and Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with Twenty Valley and St. David's Bench appellations have turned heads at international competitions for years. Factor in stocked farmers' markets, restored Victorian main streets, and an award-winning culinary scene sourcing quality local ingredients, and you can see how the Niagara Peninsula gives the Loire Valley a run for its pinot, all at a significant discount.

Learn more about GCT’s self-guided Niagara Wines and Waterfront Trails itinerary.

Eastern Townships, QC

If there’s a single Canadian region that channels the spirit of French wine-country cycling, it’s the Eastern Townships. This rolling countryside southeast of Montreal has a European vibe, filtered through the distinct lens of Quebec. You’ll encounter old stone farmhouses, covered bridges, bistros and auberges, and signposts for the Route des Vins, a cycling circuit of roughly 130 kilometres through vineyards and orchards that surround small towns. This is a region full of stories and characters, many with inspiring conversations when you stop for a chat. The region’s colourful personalities could fill an entire story of their own. The history of the region is fascinating as well, drawing on an eclectic mix of Quebecois farmers, American Loyalists, and more recently, urban escapees.

Wines in this region may be young by Old World standards, but they are developing fast and gaining worldwide attention, particularly the whites. With long-standing orchards and a wealth of fertile soil, the Eastern Townships is also popular for ciders and ice ciders.

Learn more about GCT’S Eastern Townships Bicycle Route.

Kettle Valley, BC

The Kettle Valley Rail Trail in the Okanagan offers more mild adventure than Bordeaux or Burgundy. The trail follows a decommissioned railway through tunnels and over tall wooden trestles, past abandoned settlements and sun-bleached canyon walls, all connecting about six hundred kilometres of converted rail bed. You don't ride all of it, as some of it can be in rough shape, but the section through the Myra Canyon trestles near Kelowna lives up to its dramatic photos, and the KVR’s proximity to the Naramata Bench makes it a genuinely world-class pedal-and-sip proposition. Naramata has arguably the most concentrated stretch of outstanding wineries in Canada.

For wine aficionados, the varietals coming out of the South Okanagan and Black Sage Bench are well worth making the trip, by saddle or any other means. Winery restaurants and tasting rooms benefit from the region’s prized stone fruits and produce, and quality dining options are abundant along the way. As for the scenery, Lake Okanagan and Skaha Lake contrast surprisingly arid hills of sage bush and pine. Combine a KVR adventure with visits to wineries like Painted Rock, Black Hills or the See Ya Later Ranch, and you have a bucket list cycling route few in Europe would imagine you could find in Canada.

Learn more about cycling the Kettle Valley Heritage Trail.

Annapolis Valley

Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley doesn’t get the same attention as the three above, which is either an issue or a positive feature, depending on the rider. The cycling is gentle, tracing a valley flanked by two ridges that buffers the coastal wind, and keeps the picturesque farmland scenery intact. Famous for its apple orchards, the valley’s growing wine industry has won international awards with cool-climate whites and sparkling wine.

Unique to Nova Scotia, the Tidal Bay appellation offers crisp, mineral-driven whites that are particularly delicious after a day on the bike. At some point you'll probably find yourself at a wooden table outside a cidery, eating fresh seafood, wondering why you don't do this every year.

Learn more about GCT’s itinerary to cycle the Best of Nova Scotia

It’s ridiculous to argue Canada is better than France or Italy, because we’re not comparing apples to apples (although to be honest, the apples in Canada are better). That said, the gap between a week cycling in a Canadian or European wine region is considerably smaller than the gap between their respective airfares. In Canada, the vines look great, the wine is fantastic, the roads are quieter than you'd expect, and locals are often friendlier because they see less tourists. Eat well, ride the next morning with modest ambition, and repeat. It’s what any wine-country cycling is supposed to feel like - in Europe, or in Canada.

Robin Esrock is the bestselling author of The Great Canadian Bucket List