Leipheimer, top American Professional Bicycle Racer, teams up with renowned Napa Valley Winemakers

Oct. 10, 2011 - PRLog -- Napa Bike, http://www.napabike.org, and The Napa Valley Destination Council have organized the first-ever LEGENDARY NAPA BIKE WINE TOUR for Friday, November 11, 2011 in the heart of the Napa Valley.

The ultimate wine country cycling adventure includes a 55-mile bike ride with three-time Tour of California and Tour of Switzerland winner Levi Leipheimer, supplemented with gourmet meals and a series of private tastings of world class reserve wines at some of Napa Valley’s finest vineyards.  Only twenty-five riders will have the privilege to participate in this exclusive wine country cycling event to benefit Napa Bike and will receive a special commemorative cycling jersey signed by Levi Leipheimer.

"I am delighted to lead this small group on a tour around some of my favorite roads in the whole world," says Levi Leipheimer. "This is my backyard, I love it, and I’ve called in a quite a few favors to make this day absolutely unforgettable."

The day will begin with a special breakfast at Solbar, http://www.solagecalistoga.com/dining, the upper Valley's Michelin-starred restaurant.  Chef Brandon Sharp has designed a special breakfast that will fuel the group on the first 40-mile leg of the ride. At  Pine Ridge Winery http://www.pineridgewinery.com/, the riders will sample award-winning wines along with the art of Chef Janet Sheehan, whose work at Quince, 213 Ellsworth, and Pine Ridge Winery have earned her national recognition.

Chef Sheehan is enthusiastic about her contribution to the event.  “I’ve seen what Levi does on a bicycle, and it’s amazing,” she says.  “My job is to make sure that we replace the calories of this ride with the most delicious food on the planet.  I am going to make sure that this is going to be a lunch that you will never forget!”

At the next stop, a group of select Napa Valley winemakers, led by Master of Wine Peter Marks teamed up with Tom Rinaldi of Provenance Winery http://www.provenancevineyards.com, will create a one-of-a-kind experience tasting world class reserve wines at Vineyard 29 http://www.vineyard29.com.  As the Grand Finale at the final stop, Gary Erickson, founder of Clif Bar, will welcome the group to Velo Vino http://www.velovinonapavalley.com to swap stories about epic rides over a special dessert food and wine pairing.   “We’ll save those for the end of the ride,” says Leipheimer with a grin.

The cost of the first Legendary Napa Bike Wine Tour is $1500 per person, which is a tax-deductible donation to the Napa County Bicycle Coalition, a California non-profit 501(c)3 organization. All proceeds from this event benefit the Coalition and its goals to make Napa County more bicycle-friendly for cyclists of all types and persuasions. Tickets are sold on a first-come, first served basis, and only twenty-five places are available.

VISIT http://www.napabike.org for more information.

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The Napa County Bicycle Coalition, designated as a 501c(3) non-profit, is a membership-supported advocacy organization working to improve the bicycling environment and quality of life for all Napa Valley residents and tourists.