Welcome to Vino & Velo, your guide for cycling, wine, and food excursions in Italy! Our goal is to make your vacation dreams a reality, and send you home with memories that will make you smile for years to come. Our focus is on wine and cycling, but tours aren’t restricted to bicycles. Hiking, bus or van tours, even Vespa or car tours are all possible. The only limit is your imagination…

Imagine riding a bicycle through the Tuscan countryside, stopping along the way for a cafe or gelato, lunch and a little wine. The rolling hills of Tuscany offer spectacular views and you’ll have the chance to stop as often as you like to snap a photo, walk into a field of grape vines, or maybe pick a few figs fresh from the tree.

Imagine touring Tuscany in a van with the whole family, perhaps even several generations together sharing an amazing experience. Search for the best gelatos, strongest coffees, most beautiful wines, and greatest family adventures without the stress of finding a parking place or getting lost.

Imagine hiking in majestic forests from one small village to the next, or taking a spiritual journey along part of the Via Francigiana (the road St Francis of Assisi walked from Canterbury to Rome). From the rolling hills of the Crete Senese to the rugged mountains of the Appenines you’ll find the right terrain for your adventure.

Vino

“You have to taste a culture to understand it. ” ~Deborah Cater

Wine and wine making are deeply embedded in the Italian culture. Even if you aren’t a wine lover, your experience of Italy will benefit from tasting its wines and understanding its place in every day life. From a single wine tasting to a multi-day tasting experience, Vino & Velo can find the wines you’ve always dreamed of trying – in locations that truly take your breath away. AIS certified Sommelier Leif will share with you his extensive knowledge of Tuscany and the wines it produces. You’ll meet the locals and have the chance to try traditional dishes paired with the perfect wine. Self-guided options are also available.

If you want more than just a wine tasting, Vino & Velo also offers a variety of learning experiences for those who want to understand wine better. Try a Wine Tutorial, a kind of mini-course in the basics of what it means to “taste” wine or, for a more in-depth understanding of wine, wine making and wine tasting ask Leif to teach you one-on-one for as long as you like.

Velo

“It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them” ~Ernest Hemingway

Cycling is the best way to see a country, and with Vino & Velo you will see Italy at it’s finest! Tours can be as short as a single morning ride into the countryside for a wine and cheese tasting or they can span several days as you explore vineyards, villages and quiet country roads. Learn about vines and olive trees. Taste the wine and oil that come from them. Enjoy a laid back and casual ride or challenge yourself with some great hills to breathtaking views. Stay in one place or ride to a new city each day. We will work with you to create an experience you’ll never forget. If needed we can arrange for van support in case someone gets tired or the weather suddenly changes…or you decide to buy wine along the route!

Leif and Michele live life on two wheels. They don’t own a car, their house is filled with bikes, and they have worked on and around bikes since they met.

Leif Karlsson

Leif began his life on 2 wheels as a teenager competing in his home country of Sweden. He even went to a cycling high school! His first training camp abroad was to northern Italy when his infatuation with everything Italian was born. While he didn’t go on to compete professionally he never lost his passion for cycling and regardless of where he was or what he was doing for work he rode his bike as much as possible. He moved to Italy in 2005 where his cycling became his work. Guiding for nearly 20 years has given him real insight into what impact cycling can have on people and that’s the kind of real life experience that helps him listen to others and help them become successful on the bike.

Leif became a certified sommelier through Associazione Italiana Sommelier in 2009 and has led many tastings and wine tours over the years. Wine is another passion that he loves to share with others.

Leif’s network of contacts and many years of experience guiding in Italy allow him to design a truly personal experience for each traveler or group and his experience working in vineyards and olive groves gives his tours extra insight into Italian culture. Leif’s mother tongue is Swedish and he is also fluent in Italian and English.

Licensed Tour Guide (Guida Ambientale Escursionistica, tessera n°  016/2012)
Certified Sommelier (AIS Toscana, tessera n° 81995. 10/05)
Cyclist and Founder (ASD Velo Club Florence By Bike)

Michele Karlsson

Michele is an American who fell in love with a Swede and lives with him in Italy. She only started riding a road bike in 2012, but the moment she got in the saddle she was hooked. Coming to cycling later in life helps her understand the new rider better; every problem, every struggle, every achievement is something she remembers clearly and can relate to.

Michele enjoys sharing her love of all things Italian with visitors. As a watercolor artist Michele has a unique way of viewing the countryside, finding those little details that make the experience come alive for guests. She frequently assists on cycling tours with larger groups. Michele’s mother tongue is English. She is competent in Italian. Swedish is going to take awhile.

Tour Assistant – Vino & Velo

Watercolor artist – Michele Karlsson Art & Design

Contact us to start designing your Italian adventure!