Ruins of the ancient settlement of the Roman city of Santa Criz.

Defining elements of the NAVARRE PRE-PYRENEES LANDSCAPE: cropland, scrubland hills, and vineyards.

Restoration work on old vines in the La Oliveta site.

The village of Sada faithfully showcases the urban layout typical of most medieval Navarrese towns: stone houses clustered around a hilltop.

The tower of the deserted village of Abaiz stands guard over the vines of the Arenales terroir. Harvest has passed, and autumn is leaving its mark.

A vineyard featuring a neatly maintained, compact cover crop appears unexpectedly in the middle of the hills.

The Beragu Range defines the southern boundary of the wine region known as BAJA MONTAÑA NAVARRA.

Arenales terroir: One of the key single plots in the Golerga project by Bodegas Viña Zorzal in Navarra's Baja Montaña region.

The Gezari site, near Eslava, is home to the vineyards behind Paraje de Guezari.

Santo Tomás terroir, one of the flagship sites in the Navarrese Pre-Pyrenees winemaking scene. Managed by winegrower Gonzalo Ibarrola.

El Olivo, Red and White Grenache (Garnacha) cultivated for Bodegas Caudalia wines.

Kalera, another featured terroir in the Golerga project by Bodegas Viña Zorzal.

Medieval atmosphere surrounding the Castle of Olite.

The hilltop village of Ujué serves as the customary starting point for the RIBERA ALTA route.

Perched at over 800 meters above sea level, Ujué is one of Navarra's premier vantage points, offering unobstructed views in all directions.

Passageway between the church walls (left) and the outer ramparts (right) of the Fortified Church of Ujué.

View of San Martín de Unx from high up the ridge. Top left: the main tower of Ujué, where our route began.

Minor mechanical trouble on the gravel tracks leading toward Olite.

Dusk falling over the medieval fortified enclosure known as the Cerco de Artajona.

Ovum barrel at the Cosecheros de Olite winery. The unique egg-shaped geometry shapes the distinct character of the eponymous wine.

Lupier site near San Martín de Unx. A exceptional blend of microclimate and soil makes this a privileged site for grape growing.

Mountain singletrack winding between pine forests and crops.

The El Duende terroir, a key player in establishing red wines as a bedrock category within Navarra's winemaking realm.

Tucked away off the beaten track, El Boyeral terroir underpins winemaker Gonzalo Zelayeta's project in the mountains of San Martín de Unx.

The Lupier site houses several plots of the Domaine Lupier project—the venture of acclaimed Bierzo-born winemaker Raúl Pérez in Navarra. Its vines yield the renowned "El Terroir" and "La Dama" wines, one of which will grace our glasses at the end of the day.

The Las Abejeras site enjoys ideal conditions for vine cultivation. Top-tier wines from at least four local wineries trace their origins back to this very land.

Day's last light over Puente La Reina: capital, medieval town, and central hub of this VALDIZARBE LANDSCAPE.

Old vines intended for personal consumption hidden along the margins of the Way of Saint James.

The vines of the Nekeas Valley were among the early catalysts behind the new-wave Garnacha wines now widely embraced across Navarra's wineries.

Nekeas Valley

Bodegas Aroa: a fresh approach to the wines of the old Kingdom.

Just as it looks... gentle terrain that offers easy pedaling. Vineyards along the path toward the centuries-old Aitzibita terroir.

Days of discovery: the historic Lakar Terroir is quite well hidden...

The Nekeas Valley sets the scenery benchmark for the eastern half of the VALDIZARBE LANDSCAPE.

The hidden Nekeas Valley is home to some of Navarra's oldest Garnacha vineyards.

Bodegas Iturdaki bottles posing alongside their vines—a perfect example of a boutique, minimalist project excelling in fine winemaking.

Single plot dedicated to the iconic Santa Cruz by Bodegas Artazu.

Garnacha grapes undergoing veraison for Artazu's legendary Santa Cruz.

Centuries-old Aitzibita terroir: a hidden gem in the Valdizarbe Valley, polished by Bodegas Iturdaki.

Lakar terroir, the birthplace of the eponymous wine from Bodegas Aroa.

Lush cover crop flourishing across the organic vineyards of Bodegas Lezaun.

Monastery and Pago de Iratxe. In the background, the Sierra de Lokiz forms the northern border of winegrowing TIERRA ESTELLA.

Day's last light over Montejurra mountain—the regional hub and central axis around which our route in Tierra Estella pivots.

Castillo de Monjardín Winery. At the peak sit the castle ruins from which it takes its name.

"Days of discovery" in Paraje de Isurudia, a pristine snapshot of the natural environment in Tierra Estella.

On the southern slopes of Montejurra mountain, the lands surrounding the town of Dicastillo harbor a rich array of boutique terroirs. Meticulously farmed by true industry visionaries, they play a key role in raising the global profile of Navarrese wine.

A mandatory stop along the trail... the Wine Fountain at Bodegas Iratxe.

Micro-terroirs producing exceptional wines on the Slopes of Montejurra.

An impromptu stop at the estate of Pago de Arínzano winery, designated as one of Spain's prestigious "Grandes Pagos de España".

Terroir Arambeltza Bodega Emilio Valerio

Terroir San Martín Bodega Emilio Valerio

A river of vines in the NAVARRE SONSIERRA.

Bihurko site in the surroundings of Bargota.

Economic rationale is sometimes hard to fathom: November has arrived and unharvested grapes remain on the vines...

The Sierra de Codés shelters the vineyards of the village of Aras from the northern winds.

Ruins of the Monastery of San Juan del Ramo, a historic reminder of work well done.

The day draws to a close among the scattered vines of Torres del Río.

Sierra de Codés rising above the Bodegas Marco Real vineyards in Sansol.

Vineyards with a vibrant cover crop in El Busto.

Boutique terroirs scattered across the hillsides under the shelter of the Codés Range.

Planted in 1905 in the municipality of San Vicente de Los Arcos over the ruins of a 1st-2nd century AD Roman villa, the old vines of Finca El Poblado hold a prime position on our list of NAVARRE SONSIERRA terroirs.

La Pared Terroir: Vines crafting the renowned single-vineyard wine (*vino de paraje*) of the same name by Bodegas Marco Real.

Bargota Bihurko

Terroir Valdeherreros

Campiestros site, tranquil vineyards along the route toward the Ebro River Valley.

"Days of discovery" through the expansive Pine Forests of Lerín. A distinctly different landscape.

Vines and olive trees: a pairing frequently seen across the Iberian Peninsula.

Roses and vines: another practical pairing. If a vineyard disease approaches, the rose bush falls ill first, acting as an early warning system.

The charm of Bodegas Bagordi in Navarrese Tierra Estella. The Iberian Mountain Range frames the southern horizon.

Organic vineyards of Bodegas Bagordi in the Andurriales site.

Vines and organic fertilization in its natural form.

The Ebro River weaves through the lush riverside woodland nourished by its own waters.

Long, flat stretches define the riding throughout the Ebro River Valley.

The town of Lerín often marks the starting point for our journeys through the wine region known as Rioja Navarra.

Pre-phylloxera vines in Viña Mariano, a micro-plot yielding La Marciana wines by Bodegas Navarrsotillo.

A pre-phylloxera vine in Viña Mariano—we presume each vine has its own name.

The vineyard guardian, showing the proud devotion of a true caretaker.

Consolidated 11th-century ruins of the former Cistercian Monastery of Fitero farmstead, repurposed as the hermitage of Santa María de Yerga. Located in the upper reaches of the mountain range bearing the same name, it occasionally serves as our route's starting point.

Occasionally, vineyards crop up unexpectedly in high-altitude mountain areas that are secluded to say the least.

The slopes of the Sierra de Yerga sweep down toward the vast open expanse of the Ebro River Valley.
Tucked away quietly in these transitional borderlands between mountain and plain lie several of the exceptional single vineyards that grant global renown to La Rioja wines.

The Montalvillo site and the mountain outcrop of Quiñón de Valmira. The mountain lends its name to one of winemaker Álvaro Palacios' most celebrated wines.

Characteristic olive trees guarding the upper rim of the Quiñón de Valmira terroir.

The Quiñón de Valmira terroir: ancient Garnacha vines securely fenced against wild boars and roe deer.

The hidden charm of Finca de Valtomelloso acts as a transition zone between the Sierra de Yerga and the Ebro River Valley.

Sometimes the landscape changes...

"Day of discovery" in Navarra's Ribera Baja: the Pontigos terroir, an enological gem crafted into fine wine by the team at Zorzal Wines.

In the middle of a landscape where it feels like "there's nothing around," one of the iconic vineyards in Navarra's wine history emerges: Terroir Malayeto.

End of the day in the Sierra de Yerga.

Cuesta de La Reina terroir, a sea of vineyards owned by Bodegas Escudero on the slopes of the Sierra de Yerga.

El Sueño de Amado terroir, centennial vines of Bodegas Ilurce, also set along the slopes of the Sierra de Yerga.

Pontigos Terroir: Old-vine Garnacha crafted for Señora de las Alturas by Zorzal Wines.

Ungrafted, pre-phylloxera vines in the Pontigos Terroir.

Malayeto Terroir, birthplace of one of Spanish wine's best value-for-money bottles, crafted by Zorzal Wines.

Vineyards of La Montesa, one of the entry-level wines from world-renowned winemaker Álvaro Palacios.

Set on stony soils, the old Garnacha vines of Quiñón de Valmira yield one of Álvaro Palacios's single-vineyard wines (*vinos de paraje*) that repeatedly earns 100 Parker points.
Due to its high price tag, it is exclusively featured on our ULTRA PREMIUM WINES BIKE TOURS.

Quiñón de Valmira Terroir.

Corral de los Altos terroir: Old Garnacha vines for the eponymous wine by Zorzal Wines.

If we could only choose a single photograph to convey the essence of the Bardenas Reales, we would choose this one.

Our routes frequently kick off beside the most emblematic landmark in the Bardenas, the geological formation known as Cabezo de Castildeterra.

Gravel track in the Bardenas beneath the badland hills of La Ralla and El Rallón.

Extending the route under the watchful eye of Cabezo Pisquerra and its adjacent mound, the Niño.

Bardenas badlands: a dramatic landscape that never fails to amaze.

Tourism and sports industry professionals discovering the wild beauty of the Bardenas.

The hills of La Nasa and Tripazul towering over another expanse of eroded Bardenas terrain.

Riding beneath the ancient ruins of Peñaflor Castle.

It is November, and as you can see, the cyclists are bundled up warm. The Bardenas is a land of extremes. What might feel like an easy rail-trail ride in ideal conditions reveals the full meaning of the word "Desert" when extreme weather sets in—especially if anything goes wrong.

Echoes of the past in La Bardena Blanca.

The day comes to a close in La Bardena Blanca.

The vineyard behind Desierto—the flagship wine from Bodegas Azul y Garanza—stands out against the landscape north of the Bardenas. It will reveal itself before us after a few kilometers on the trail.

"Days of discovery" in the Tierra Tostada terroir, vines cultivated for Naturaleza Salvaje by Bodegas Azul y Garanza.

Lush cover crops in the soils that nourish the grapes for Desierto.

Living Soil: the core philosophy behind the Desert Wines.

Vineyards of the Monasterio de la Oliva. The enduring link between vineyards and historic religious houses is a constant feature across our WINE LANDSCAPES.

If winter has truly done its work, a vibrant explosion of green dominates the landscape.

The 2016 Girls-Cycling-Experience group riding through the mountains of BAZTAN.

At times, the forest leaves you speechless.

A typical street in any of the villages across northern Navarra.

Pedaling along the border ridge: a classic scene of the Navarrese mountain landscape.

Typical Baztanese landscape as autumn approaches.

Ehiartza Pass along the border ridge—a silent witness to the region's long history of smuggling activity.

Straddling the border between Baztan and the French-Basque KINTOA Valley, Berdaritz Pass stands as a historic crossing point for clandestine movement during turbulent times, most notably World War II.

Final rays of daylight breaking over the peaks of BAZTAN.

Young vineyard of Baztango Xurie Winery in Arizkun, sitting beneath the 1,300-meter peak of Mount Auza.

By profile, Baztán wines share striking similarities with those from the neighboring province of Gipuzkoa known as Txakoli—a style broadly defined as Basque white wine. Appellation rules (DO) prohibit using that official designation on labels or legal documentation, but among wine lovers, what we taste and enjoy is undeniably Baztán Txakoli.

Vineyard of Baztango Xurie Winery, set along the banks of the Baztan Way of Saint James.

Garaiko Borda estate and Katxalin Winery vineyard—the raw ingredient behind their white wine series named Aventura.

Set in a scenic location known as Zunda, the upper terroir of Katxalin Winery in Oronoz is challenging to reach by bike, so visits are usually focused on the lower vineyard (pictured above). Positioned across two distinct elevations on the slopes overlooking the village of Oronoz, their presence is pleasantly surprising to both foreign visitors and locals, who are often unaware of their existence.

Vineyards of Beko Errota on the southern slope of Mount Jaizkibel.

A cluster of Hondarrabi Zuri, the grape variety that dominates the production of coastal Basque Txakoli.

Vineyards of Hiruzta on the southern slope of Mount Jaizkibel.

Traditional overhead trellis system engineered to keep the grape clusters elevated above soil moisture.