What can I expect at a Wine Trail Ride?
Join WindsorEats as we cycle through the Essex Pelee Island Coast and experience the tastes, sights and sounds of the region. Essex County has some of the best wine in the world and there is no better way to enjoy the surrounding region then by pedalling your way through it. You’ll be able to sip the local wine and learn about each award winning winery we visit.
Participants on our Wine Trail Ride make 4 stops on each ride.
Our guide and cycling expert will be on hand to show us the way and answer questions. Each Wine Trail Ride includes tastings, tours, amazing food along the way and a knowledgeable guide to lead us to each winery.
You’ll also enjoy a progressive meal along the way as we indulge in treats from the kitchens of the wineries that we visit. Wine Trail Rides are sure to please your taste buds and fill your belly.
Why do tickets cost as much as they do?
We’re aware that our ticket prices are slightly higher than normal cycling tours. That’s because this isn’t a normal cycling tour or a normal tour company.
First, we’re the one of the best at what we do. It’s not just our moms telling us that either. We’ve been named our regions Best Tour Experience, the Wine Trail Rides have been named Best Culinary Tourism Experience in Ontario and Innovator of the Year for the entire Canadian tourism industry, and we’ve also been named the Best Small-Medium Sized Tourism Business in Canada. We make sure we’re giving you the best experience we possibly can, and that includes not skimping on the food and drink.
We’re also a socially responsible tour company that gives back to our staff and our community. Every experience ticket WindsorEats sells includes a contribution to the Essex Region Conservation Authority, specifically to plant trees and grow the tree cover in the Windsor-Essex region, which at 8.5%, has some of the lowest tree cover in all of Canada. By enjoying an experience with WindsorEats, you will play a part in helping make our community greener, and more environmentally sustainable for future generations.
Not only are you playing a role in helping take care of our community, you’re helping us ensure each member of the WindsorEats team receives a more livable wage when working with us. Providing our staff with a more livable wage directly correlates to great experiences being led by individuals who are happy with and proud of being your host.
Who is WindsorEats?
WindsorEats a tourism business that puts on some pretty amazing tours, festivals and events, including the Wine Trail Ride.
We’ve been awarded Best Tour Company in Windsor-Essex, the Culinary Tourism Leadership Award for Ontario, the Best Small-Medium Sized Tourism Business in Canada and more!
Are these Wine Trail Rides really as good as I hear?
Our Wine Trail Rides were developed in 2008. Since then we have been providing visitors to our region with a unique experience. The Wine Trail Rides were selected as the Best Culinary Tourism Experience in Ontario and were also awarded a National Award for Tourism Excellence. So ya, they’re pretty good.
When do Wine Trail Rides take place?
Wine Trail Rides take place every weekend from May through October. Private and corporate rides are also available and take place throughout the season on the day of your choosing.
What type of bike do you provide?
We like to make sure we look all fancy shmancy while we ride. We’ve partnered with the Grove Bike Co. and provie each of our riders an electric assist bicycle to make riding easy peasy.
Do I have to wear a helmet?
Yes. Helmets are mandatory, regardless of your worries about “helmet head”.
What is the route like?
Our rides use a combination of quiet country road and the famous Chrysler Greenway Trail. Our landscape is flat which makes Essex County perfect for all levels of cycling and just a great cycling destination overall. The Chrysler Canada Greenway is the southern-most section of the Trans Canada Trail. It connects natural areas, rich agricultural lands, historically and architecturally significant structures, wineries, farm stands and many other features that make the Essex Region unique.
How do I purchase tickets?
Click on the “BUY NOW” button in the menu on every page. We really couldn’t have made it any easier.
When purchasing your ticket, please include all of your contact information (including email address and phone number) so we can communicate with you effectively.
Tickets sales end at 9:00am the day of ride.
What is included in the price?
Tickets include a bicycle, helmet, wine tastings, a gluttonous amount of amazing food and a guide.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept online payment only. You can use any major credit card. Cash or check orders cannot be processed.
I purchased my tickets. Where are they?
To maintain a good relationship with Mother Nature, our ticket system is paperless. You will receive a reminder the week of the ride and on the day of the tour your name and information. Each ticket has a bar code that will be scanned at the sign-in. Remember to bring I.D. so we know you are who you say you are and that you really are 19 years of age or older.
How many people attend the Wine Trail Ride?
We really try to make the rides a more intimate and personal experience, so we max out at 20 riders.
What’s for dinner?
We are visiting wineries that have some amazing restaurants located onsite. It’s dishes are constantly changing but they’ve included things like wood fire oven pizzas, gourmet charcuterie boards, beef tips and gelato. Trust us when we say you won’t be hungry by the end.
Can you accommodate persons with dietary restrictions such as vegetarians, vegans or people with food allergies?
We try our best to accommodate guests with dietary restrictions and food allergies. When purchasing your ticket, please select the appropriate option and provide us with additional details on check out.
If you have a dietary restriction or allergy we ask that you contact us in advance of the ride with details so that we can accommodate your requests.
When will I receive information about the event?
We send out details of the ride to our confirmed guests both within a confirmation email immediately after you purchase as well as a follow up reminder a couple days prior to your ride. It will include directions to the starting location, helpful hints and more.
Does Wine Trail Ride host private events?
Yes! Apart from the regularly scheduled rides that take place every Saturday from May to October, WindsorEats also offers personal group and corporate rides. These rides can be scheduled any day of the week. Once the group selects an available date, WindsorEats will organize the route and details.
They’re ideal for groups that cannot make the regularly scheduled rides or have a special event that they want to celebrate with family and friends. Family outings, bridal parties, work bonding and corporate events are just a few of the groups we’ve had out with us.
If you’re interested in setting up a private ride, you can book directly in our shop.
Do you sell gift certificates?
Yes, you can purchase gift certificates on the Shop page. When you complete the purchase a gift certificate will be sent to you via email.
Can you accommodate children?
Every mom and dad deserve some time for themselves just to unleash and unwind with some good times. As a result, Wine Trail Rides are only available for those 19 years of age and older.
Is there a wait list for sold out events? What if I have tickets but I can’t attend the event?
Once a Wine Trail Ride is sold out, no additional seats will become available for the event. Due to the nature of our events no refunds will be given for cancellations. If you cannot attend a Wine Trail Ride and you wish to transfer your tickets please contact us with new guest information prior to the event.
What time do the events begin and how late do they go?
The rides start promptly and are approximately five hours long.
What if it rains?
We ride on! We’re tough like that. Some of our best rides have been in the rain.
Any other details I should know?
Just have a great time! The Wine Trail Rides have won some really nice awards because they are a great way to spend the day and experience our region. We are quite proud of them! Each ride celebrates what we love about where we live.