Emily Z.
Yelp
Considering the last time I rode a bike was at least a decade ago, I was a bit hesitant about doing a bike tour of wine country. I didn't think I could live down the embarrassment of a BUI if it came to that.
PSA: don't drink and bike. BUIs are nothing to joke about. (There, I did my part)
Between Calistoga and St. Helena, Calistoga seemed to have more selection of smaller independent wineries. CBS's prices were also about $20-30 cheaper than the bike shop in St. Helena, so we decided to rent from CBS. CBS is also the only bike shop that's open on a Monday, so something to keep in mind if you're touring wine country on a weekday. There's parking along the main street, but you should circle around the back and park in the lot in the back.
Brad was super nice and had us ready to go within 10 minutes. You are given a map and a route highlighted for you. We decided we wanted to tour wineries more than the biking experience, so we cut the route in half but you could easily adjust your route according to your preference and time limit (FYI, the standard route that Brad highlighted for us was about 18-20 miles roundtrip). For those nervous about riding on the highway (okay, me), there are really only a small stretch where you are riding along Silverado; most of the roads are small or back roads where there are hardly any cars.
They offer a wine tour ($80/person) where you get free tastings for 5 local wineries in addition to the bike rental, but they are spread out quite a bit so if you cut the tour in half, you are really only able to get to 2-3. We decided to do a self-guided tour ($39/all day bike rental) and visit many of the other wineries located nearby. Most of the wineries are open on a weekend, but know that if you are visiting on a weekday, some of them are open by appointments only. While it's pretty easy to call and go visit, I'd advise calling ahead of time to schedule an appointment because not all the wineries picked up their phones when we called.
The bikes are outfitted with a small zipper bag on the back, so you could easily fit two bottles (three if you squish) and bring it with you. If you choose to do the wine tour, CBS will stop by and pick up the wine for you to be picked up at the shop by the time you return. If you're coming here on a hot summer day, definitely bring water with you (it's not the distance but rather the weather/sun that can be killer). Also, there are no restaurants/stores along the route, so either bring a lunch or pick up some sandwiches in downtown before you leave.