It’s time to explore Eastern Washington’s wine regions in a whole new way: on an electric bike. When you book an experience through Kickstand Tours, you’ll get an exhilarating workout, a friendly guide, a tasty lunch and just the right amount of delicious vino in one afternoon.
The e-bike revolution is upon us, and it’s winning over everyone from expert bikers to complete novices. Kickstand Tours was born when the founder, Andy Zissermann, decided to combine his life-long love of bike-riding and his passion for good wine. Zissermann has always loved to ride his bike, and both he and his wife enjoy commuting that way. In December 2018, he made the decision to turn his favorite hobby into a business and offer his fellow wine-loving Washingtonians a new way to experience a wine tour. Kickstand Tours officially launched a few years later.
Traditional cycling is great, but it can be arduous, especially for those who don’t bike regularly. E-bikes make bicycling more accessible, as they make going up hills much more manageable and make the entire riding process easier. While the expression “it’s like riding a bike” may be a bit misleading, even if you haven’t ridden a bicycle in many years, it won’t take long to get the hang of an e-bike, especially with the expert guidance you’ll receive.
After a short but thorough e-bike lesson, Zissermann will guide you to your first winery — but first, you’ll make a stop to pick up your lunch. If you book a Walla Walla tour, you may be lucky enough to try Graze, which has a simple but fantastic sandwich and salad menu. Then it’s off to taste some of Washington’s finest wine and make some beautiful memories, biking over the rolling hills and past the lush green fields and sprawling vineyards Eastern Washington is known for.
But how do the logistics work? As it turns out, thanks to Kickstand Tours’ exceptional schedule, everything goes extremely smoothly. After you pick up your lunch, you’ll bike to your first winery, enjoy a tasting, then have a leisurely picnic lunch with your tasting at your second stop. You’ll meet Zissermann at the third and final tasting room on the agenda, where you can park or have your designated driver drop you off.
You’ll end the day by riding back to the original meeting spot, where you’ll enjoy one final tasting while Zissermann picks up the wine you’ve purchased and delivers it to you.
While e-bike tours are seasonal, Eastern Washington — particularly the Walla Walla Valley — has an exceptionally long bike-riding season. Kickstand Tours currently offers wine tours in both Walla Walla and the Yakima Valley, which includes Prosser, Red Mountain and Rattlesnake Hills. Don’t get left in the dust of this exciting new way to see wine country.
Tasting fees are not included; single-day tours, which are around six hours, start at $150. To book with Kickstand Tours, visit kickstandtours.com.