The Tour Guides Behind Adventures in Cycling
Dave Brazell fell into guiding on a family trip, spent three years leading rides for local tour companies, and founded Adventures in Cycling around 2010 with one simple idea: smaller, private, more personal wine tours — one group per day, never more.
Sixteen years on, it’s still a family operation: Dave’s wife Joette, son Jordan, and daughters Jenny and Jaxen all pitch in (when the family isn’t golfing at Northwood). Based in Healdsburg, Adventures in Cycling is a Sonoma County Tourism vetted partner with hundreds of solid five-star reviews on TripAdvisor.
A Sonoma County native, Amber has always felt most at home exploring the outdoors. Cycling came into her life at age 12, quickly becoming a source of independence and adventure. Just four years later, she completed the Levi Leipheimer Medio Fondo.
She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Recreation Administration from Sacramento State while working at the campus bike repair shop, where she gained an even deeper appreciation for life on two wheels.
Amber’s love of Wine Country extends well beyond cycling. She learned to love cooking from her grandmother and has a deep appreciation for the local agriculture, food, and wine that shape Sonoma County. One of her favorite parts of guiding is helping guests better understand the landscape around them—adding a little more context to every glass of wine they enjoy along the way.
A proud member of the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition, Amber now lives on four acres of Chardonnay vines in the Russian River Valley with her husband and dogs.
Matt’s Bio Is Coming Soon!
Hundreds of 5-Star Reviews
First, I would like to start out by saying Dave, the owner, was so nice and easy to book our adventure. When we arrived in Healdsburg, we met Amber. We were a bit hesitant at first because we have never been on electric bikes. She made us feel at ease, which was the best way to start our trip. We stopped a few times on our way to the vineyard and she pointed out various things about winemaking. Her knowledge was much appreciated. We stopped at two vineyards and she was quite informative about the wines, etc. Our last vineyard, Amber made us a delicious lunch! Overall, it was well worth the trip and would suggest that anyone in that area should book a trip.
-Jamie A.
Absolutely awesome. Dave is an amazing host. Down to earth, easy to talk to and be with. The company is in the experience business — details matter. Dave was our guide, he cooked and prepared lunch in advance. The food was outstanding. He packed real plates and uses his grandmothers silverware (why not). Dave prepared his famous cheese board for one of the stops — it was perfect. The wine tastes much better with cheese and crackers. We visited Martorana Family Winery — met the owner, toured his wine shop, tasted wines pre-barrel. I can’t recommend this company enough. They are excellent at what they do and they care about you.
-Jeff
Riding with Dave at Adventures in Cycling was a 10/10 day. My husband and I did a day tour around Napa and visited 2 different wineries.
From the planning to the execution of the day, Dave was beyond helpful and so nice throughout the process. He learned about what types of wines we liked and planned accordingly. The ride was beautiful and we loved how he took us to boutique wineries that we wouldn’t have necessarily gone to without his guidance.
Another highlight was also the amazing lunch Dave made for us. We were celebrating my husband’s birthday and it was beyond thoughtful and special (we started with a cheeseboard, a delicious salad, as well as chicken and steak for the mains). We didn’t want our day to end and would recommend this special tour to anyone coming to visit Napa! Perfect for a couple as well as larger groups!
-Amanda G.
First Time Visiting California Wine Country?
Visitors and Locals alike refer to “wine country” generally, understanding location nuances will help you plan and select the best tour for your group.
The California wine country most often refers to Sonoma and Napa counties, within those counties are the cities of Healdsburg, Sonoma and Napa with many delightful smaller cities and towns in-between. The distance between the northern most reach of Sonoma County and the southern most region of Napa County is approximately 50 miles so be sure to select a tour that aligns with your preferences in wine varietals and travel time.
Most bikers stay in an accommodation in Healdsburg, Sonoma, Calistoga, St. Helena or Napa. We are a mobile outfit that travels to where you are staying and departs from the closest bike friendly location.
California Wine Country is beautiful in every season!
Every season paints Sonoma and Napa counties a different color. Spring brings bud break, when the vines unfurl bright green against wildflower-dotted hills. Summer means long, golden days under a full canopy, with warm afternoons made for a picnic in the vineyards. Fall is harvest — the air smells of crush, and the vineyards glow in amber and crimson as growers race to bring in the fruit. Even winter has its magic: quiet country roads, cozy tasting rooms, and brilliant yellow mustard blooming between the rows. Whenever you visit, wine country's mild climate makes it a joy to explore by e-bike — there's truly no wrong season to ride.
Not sure which tour suits you?
Call Dave at 707.326.0236, fill out the form here, or email dave@adventureincycling.com — he’ll help you pick the route, pace, and wineries that fit your group.