Winery bike tours - Interview Oana Soare, Carpatbike
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CarpatBike is among the few agencies specialized in active tourism and authentic experiences in Romania and to a lesser extent other countries, with a focus on bike tours, hiking and innovative concepts such as bike&wine.
Their mission is to connect people with local places and communities through premium, sustainable and memorable experiences often combined with local gastronomy and wine tastings.
For over fifteen years, CarpatBike has been writing stories on two wheels, where the roads get lost among the hills and the villages keep their soul alive. They are perhaps the first company to launch the concept of cycle tourism and the idea is based on a childhood passion but also the desire to show foreign tourists a different Romania (beyond mass tourism and the 3-4 tourist attractions ticked off by coach tourism). The tours organized by Carpatbike are not just about cycling — they represent the encounter with simple people, with craftsmen who transform matter into art, with wines that tell the story of the place.
Each tour is a journey through the heart of local communities, where traditions are passed down as a precious gift from generation to generation. They combine the pleasure of cycling with experiences that awaken your senses: fine wine tastings (they launched the bike&wine concept), hiking, sometimes horseback riding or kayaking. All this time they promote responsible ecotourism, support local producers and cultivate a healthy lifestyle connected to nature.
Their concept was to bring foreign tourists to Romania as they understood the concept of an active vacation better, but gradually they tried to develop shorter tours, of 1-3 days, for “future” Romanian tourists and it was a bit difficult for them.
They even started launching free one-day Bike&Wine events, a day of cycling in the vineyard and then stories at a winery in the Dealu Mare area, which was then little known as a wine tourism region as it is now. True, in 2010 there were no more than 3 wineries that received visits and organized wine tastings. The subject “exploded” in 2020 with the pandemic, when Romanian tourists discovered Romania and the need for movement, for active tourism. That was the moment when Carpatbike really started to have Romanian tourists even for short events. So now the share of Romanian tourists is about 50-50. The war in Ukraine did not help tourism return to Romania at all, but from 2024 they see a return in terms of foreign visitors.
Given the above story, we spoke with Oana Soare - the founder of Carpatbike, about wine tourism, a niche type of tourism that is taking shape in our country. Moreover, we asked Oana more about wine bike tourism, an even more niche type of tourism in which she specializes. Below you can find the discussion, as well as suggestions for wine tours even beyond the borders of Romania.
Carmina Nițescu: Hi Oana, I'm glad you took the time to talk about bike trips!
Oana Soare: Thank you Carmina for the invitation too… although we talk often, we rarely do it in a proper interview, but now I'm waiting for you on a bike trip😊, because we know you have a new bike.
Carmina: Carpatbike has been organizing longer and shorter bike tours for many years, some of which are organized in wine regions. How popular are wine cellar bike tours?
Oana: Cyclists and wine enthusiasts love wine cellar tours because they are not only about cycling, but also about the joy of enjoying wine where it is born, getting to know the people behind it and feeling the place. Since 2020, with the pandemic and then the difficult context created by the war in Ukraine, we have noticed a clear trend towards shorter tours, closer to home, but with high experiential value. We have also adapted, focusing on weekend or several-day getaways, which combine cycling with local gastronomy and wine.
Carmina: Please tell me, briefly, how a short, 1-day bike tour, which also includes a visit to a winery, looks like. I'm asking for those who haven't had such an experience and would be curious. Are these tours suitable for beginners in cycling?
Oana: A one-day tour means pedaling through wine landscapes, stopping at wineries for tastings and stories with people passionate about wine. There we have a guided tour of the winery and vineyard, followed by wine tasting and stories about how wine is produced and what a business in this field means. Everything is organized at a leisurely pace, with logistical support (assistance car, bikes adapted to the respective route), so that it is a pleasant experience even for those who are just starting out in cycling. No special training is needed – just the desire to discover wine and places differently. Obviously we can do much longer or more complex routes, but we usually adapt them depending on the group.
We organize such experiences in several regions – Dobrogea, Drăgășani, Târnave or Lechința in Transylvania and even to the Moldovan area. However, most tours take place in Dealu Mare, an area that is developing very much in tourism, with chic guesthouses and great restaurants, being an excellent option for both weekend getaways and corporate events.
Their mission is to connect people with local places and communities through premium, sustainable and memorable experiences often combined with local gastronomy and wine tastings.
For over fifteen years, CarpatBike has been writing stories on two wheels, where the roads get lost among the hills and the villages keep their soul alive. They are perhaps the first company to launch the concept of cycle tourism and the idea is based on a childhood passion but also the desire to show foreign tourists a different Romania (beyond mass tourism and the 3-4 tourist attractions ticked off by coach tourism). The tours organized by Carpatbike are not just about cycling — they represent the encounter with simple people, with craftsmen who transform matter into art, with wines that tell the story of the place.
Each tour is a journey through the heart of local communities, where traditions are passed down as a precious gift from generation to generation. They combine the pleasure of cycling with experiences that awaken your senses: fine wine tastings (they launched the bike&wine concept), hiking, sometimes horseback riding or kayaking. All this time they promote responsible ecotourism, support local producers and cultivate a healthy lifestyle connected to nature.
Their concept was to bring foreign tourists to Romania as they understood the concept of an active vacation better, but gradually they tried to develop shorter tours, of 1-3 days, for “future” Romanian tourists and it was a bit difficult for them.
They even started launching free one-day Bike&Wine events, a day of cycling in the vineyard and then stories at a winery in the Dealu Mare area, which was then little known as a wine tourism region as it is now. True, in 2010 there were no more than 3 wineries that received visits and organized wine tastings. The subject “exploded” in 2020 with the pandemic, when Romanian tourists discovered Romania and the need for movement, for active tourism. That was the moment when Carpatbike really started to have Romanian tourists even for short events. So now the share of Romanian tourists is about 50-50. The war in Ukraine did not help tourism return to Romania at all, but from 2024 they see a return in terms of foreign visitors.
Given the above story, we spoke with Oana Soare - the founder of Carpatbike, about wine tourism, a niche type of tourism that is taking shape in our country. Moreover, we asked Oana more about wine bike tourism, an even more niche type of tourism in which she specializes. Below you can find the discussion, as well as suggestions for wine tours even beyond the borders of Romania.
Carmina Nițescu: Hi Oana, I'm glad you took the time to talk about bike trips!
Oana Soare: Thank you Carmina for the invitation too… although we talk often, we rarely do it in a proper interview, but now I'm waiting for you on a bike trip😊, because we know you have a new bike.
Carmina: Carpatbike has been organizing longer and shorter bike tours for many years, some of which are organized in wine regions. How popular are wine cellar bike tours?
Oana: Cyclists and wine enthusiasts love wine cellar tours because they are not only about cycling, but also about the joy of enjoying wine where it is born, getting to know the people behind it and feeling the place. Since 2020, with the pandemic and then the difficult context created by the war in Ukraine, we have noticed a clear trend towards shorter tours, closer to home, but with high experiential value. We have also adapted, focusing on weekend or several-day getaways, which combine cycling with local gastronomy and wine.
Carmina: Please tell me, briefly, how a short, 1-day bike tour, which also includes a visit to a winery, looks like. I'm asking for those who haven't had such an experience and would be curious. Are these tours suitable for beginners in cycling?
Oana: A one-day tour means pedaling through wine landscapes, stopping at wineries for tastings and stories with people passionate about wine. There we have a guided tour of the winery and vineyard, followed by wine tasting and stories about how wine is produced and what a business in this field means. Everything is organized at a leisurely pace, with logistical support (assistance car, bikes adapted to the respective route), so that it is a pleasant experience even for those who are just starting out in cycling. No special training is needed – just the desire to discover wine and places differently. Obviously we can do much longer or more complex routes, but we usually adapt them depending on the group.
We organize such experiences in several regions – Dobrogea, Drăgășani, Târnave or Lechința in Transylvania and even to the Moldovan area. However, most tours take place in Dealu Mare, an area that is developing very much in tourism, with chic guesthouses and great restaurants, being an excellent option for both weekend getaways and corporate events.
Carmina: Carpatbike also organizes long tours, lasting several days, both in Romania and abroad. I recently saw that in September 20th - 27th you are organizing a very beautiful tour in the Umbria region, in Italy. Please tell me more about what "Umbria by bike" will be like, how long it lasts, what the tour includes, what participants should expect in terms of their level of preparation in cycling on such a tour and, of course, if you will also have a wine tasting, as Italy is well-known for its wines.
Oana: The Umbria by bike tour is a 7-day experience, designed to discover one of the most beautiful regions of Italy but less known than Tuscany...and all at an authentic pace, on a bike. We will pedal through green hills with vineyards and olive groves, we will pass through medieval villages and we will visit emblematic cities such as Assisi, Spoleto or Perugia. The routes are of medium difficulty, so suitable for those who are used to cycling and the logistical support makes every day comfortable: luggage is transported separately, there is a Romanian guide accompanying if there is a larger group, as well as a local team for assistance if needed. The tour can also be organized in any other period, if there are at least 2-4 people registered, but September and October are the most beautiful months of the year.
The package includes carefully selected accommodations in family-run guesthouses and hotels, Umbrian meals, but also unforgettable experiences such as visits to wineries and wine tastings, because you can't explore Italy without feeling its authentic taste. It's a tour that combines movement, culture and gastronomy, being ideal for those who want to spend an active but relaxing holiday, in a truly spectacular setting. It's a gorgeous landscape.
Carmina: How do you deal with bicycles on an organized tour in another country (or at a very long distance)? Do participants come with their own bicycles? Are there bicycle transport services from Romania to the destination country? Are there bicycles for rent in the destination country? What do you recommend to those who sign up for the tour: to come with their own bicycles or to rent on site? Can bicycle rentals be done through Carpatbike in the case of an organized tour like the one in Umbria?
Oana: On tours organized in other countries we have several options for participants. You can come with your own bicycle, but most of the time we recommend renting on site, because we have a local partner who provides us with quality bicycles, already prepared for the planned routes. This way we avoid complicated and expensive transport from Romania. Depending on preferences, you can rent electric, gravel or road bicycles, and reservations are made directly through CarpatBike, so that participants have everything arranged before departure. For larger groups, we also provide additional logistical support and can bring the bikes ourselves.
Carmina: Are there still places available on "Umbria by bike" tour? Where can the registrations be made and what are the conditions for forming a group?
Oana: Yes, there are places available. "Umbria by bike" tour can be organized practically at any time, but we recommend the most beautiful periods in terms of weather and landscape, but also depending on the air transport options (the cost is a maximum of 75-100 EUR, so I would say cheap). That's why we chose the end of September, but October is also an excellent option for those interested. Registrations are made directly through CarpatBike, and we take care of all the logistical details so that participants have an active and memorable vacation.
Carmina: Italy is very beautiful, especially in autumn, but I am curious if you are preparing bike tours in other countries in the future. And of course, if you plan to include these tours in wine regions.
Oana: Yes, we have already started with tours in Greece and we are preparing experiences in Slovenia, France and even more distant destinations for next year. We want many of these tours to also include visits to wine regions, because wine perfectly complements the bike adventure. However, our focus remains Romania, which we want to continue promoting – especially the lesser-known areas, but absolutely gorgeous in terms of landscapes and authenticity, such as Bucovina, Apusenii or Northern Dobrogea, where foreign tourists rarely reach. Among foreign tourists, the most requested destinations remain Transylvania, Bucovina, the Bucharest area, the Danube Delta and the route along the Danube on the EuroVelo route.
For Romanian tourists, our easy tours to wineries in the Dealu Mare area have become extremely popular, as well as in other wine regions where we frequently visit: Dobrogea, Drăgășani or Transylvania. Also for the public in the country, mountain trails are increasingly sought after, and Via Transilvanica attracts both Romanian and foreign cyclists.
Carmina: Oana, thank you very much for the time and inspiration you gave me. I wish you much success with this tour and in the future!
Oana: Thank you for your questions and congratulations, and to you for your effort to promote wine tourism and wine in general through the Winesday App project and beyond.
Carmina Nițescu
Winesday.ro & Winesday App
Oana: The Umbria by bike tour is a 7-day experience, designed to discover one of the most beautiful regions of Italy but less known than Tuscany...and all at an authentic pace, on a bike. We will pedal through green hills with vineyards and olive groves, we will pass through medieval villages and we will visit emblematic cities such as Assisi, Spoleto or Perugia. The routes are of medium difficulty, so suitable for those who are used to cycling and the logistical support makes every day comfortable: luggage is transported separately, there is a Romanian guide accompanying if there is a larger group, as well as a local team for assistance if needed. The tour can also be organized in any other period, if there are at least 2-4 people registered, but September and October are the most beautiful months of the year.
The package includes carefully selected accommodations in family-run guesthouses and hotels, Umbrian meals, but also unforgettable experiences such as visits to wineries and wine tastings, because you can't explore Italy without feeling its authentic taste. It's a tour that combines movement, culture and gastronomy, being ideal for those who want to spend an active but relaxing holiday, in a truly spectacular setting. It's a gorgeous landscape.
Carmina: How do you deal with bicycles on an organized tour in another country (or at a very long distance)? Do participants come with their own bicycles? Are there bicycle transport services from Romania to the destination country? Are there bicycles for rent in the destination country? What do you recommend to those who sign up for the tour: to come with their own bicycles or to rent on site? Can bicycle rentals be done through Carpatbike in the case of an organized tour like the one in Umbria?
Oana: On tours organized in other countries we have several options for participants. You can come with your own bicycle, but most of the time we recommend renting on site, because we have a local partner who provides us with quality bicycles, already prepared for the planned routes. This way we avoid complicated and expensive transport from Romania. Depending on preferences, you can rent electric, gravel or road bicycles, and reservations are made directly through CarpatBike, so that participants have everything arranged before departure. For larger groups, we also provide additional logistical support and can bring the bikes ourselves.
Carmina: Are there still places available on "Umbria by bike" tour? Where can the registrations be made and what are the conditions for forming a group?
Oana: Yes, there are places available. "Umbria by bike" tour can be organized practically at any time, but we recommend the most beautiful periods in terms of weather and landscape, but also depending on the air transport options (the cost is a maximum of 75-100 EUR, so I would say cheap). That's why we chose the end of September, but October is also an excellent option for those interested. Registrations are made directly through CarpatBike, and we take care of all the logistical details so that participants have an active and memorable vacation.
Carmina: Italy is very beautiful, especially in autumn, but I am curious if you are preparing bike tours in other countries in the future. And of course, if you plan to include these tours in wine regions.
Oana: Yes, we have already started with tours in Greece and we are preparing experiences in Slovenia, France and even more distant destinations for next year. We want many of these tours to also include visits to wine regions, because wine perfectly complements the bike adventure. However, our focus remains Romania, which we want to continue promoting – especially the lesser-known areas, but absolutely gorgeous in terms of landscapes and authenticity, such as Bucovina, Apusenii or Northern Dobrogea, where foreign tourists rarely reach. Among foreign tourists, the most requested destinations remain Transylvania, Bucovina, the Bucharest area, the Danube Delta and the route along the Danube on the EuroVelo route.
For Romanian tourists, our easy tours to wineries in the Dealu Mare area have become extremely popular, as well as in other wine regions where we frequently visit: Dobrogea, Drăgășani or Transylvania. Also for the public in the country, mountain trails are increasingly sought after, and Via Transilvanica attracts both Romanian and foreign cyclists.
Carmina: Oana, thank you very much for the time and inspiration you gave me. I wish you much success with this tour and in the future!
Oana: Thank you for your questions and congratulations, and to you for your effort to promote wine tourism and wine in general through the Winesday App project and beyond.
Carmina Nițescu
Winesday.ro & Winesday App
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