DuVine Adventures works proactively with travel agents, operating small, high-end scheduled and customized wine and cycling tours of Europe and the Americas, but also features select trips to Israel. Travel Weekly contributing editor Felicity Long spoke with Andy Levine, president and owner of the Somerville, Mass.-based company.
Travel Weekly: Wine and cycling are not the first activities people think of when they think of Israel. What was the impetus for you to create that tour?
Andy Levine: I didn't come up with the idea because it was trending. People are intrigued about Israel and they want to go, but usually to Jerusalem or Tel Aviv and usually for family events. I felt, why not promote it as a Tuscany or Provence, where you can go and enjoy good wine and great, fresh cuisine? This is a country where they grow their own food, and the fruits, vegetables and olive oils are remarkable and definitely on a par with European Mediterranean locations.
TW: Can you describe the wine-tasting experience?
Levine: There are some long-standing wineries using Bordeaux methods, especially in the Judean Hills, up in the Golan Heights and near Haifa, where they are also growing some nice cabernet [grapes]. The Tishbi Winery, for example, is one of the oldest in Israel, and the wine tasting is very Provencal, with a big open grill and wonderful flatbread pizzas.
We have found some people who have studied wine in Europe and the U.S., and they are passionate about the terroir and picking grapes. They have a lot of respect for the process.
TW: Your company specializes in luxury travel. How did you select your hotels?
Levine: There aren't a lot of high-end hotels in Israel, and the ones there are get booked up quickly. That said, we found some wonderful properties. We stay at the Carmel Forest Spa hotel in Haifa, which has a great spa for people to use after biking. The food there is like walking into Whole Foods: grilled eggplant, fresh hummus and local olive oils. Then we go to Mitzpe Hayamim, the only Relais & Chateaux hotel in Israel, where they have great food and a spa. We begin the tour at the Dan Tel Aviv on the beach and end at the five-star David Citadel in Jerusalem.
TW: How did you choose this specific route?
Levine: I create the trips by literally biking around, meeting people and asking questions. The terrain is hilly, and there aren't a lot of roads, so the itinerary is somewhat challenging. We do about 30 miles a day, but we don't start until 9:30, and the route is generally broken up with hour-and-a-half bike rides, wine tastings, meals and visits, with time for the spa afterwards.
We offer bike support and van support, and groups have guides who are experienced in cycling, culture and wine.
We also do a lot of customized bike trips in Israel, and trips that combine Israel and Jordan are very popular.
TW: Are there any negatives a traveler who is strictly coming for the food, wine and scenery might encounter?
Levine: Israel hasn't been built for a high-end market, but it's getting there. It's also not really designed for Americans. You are in a very foreign place, and a lot of people don't speak any English, especially in the countryside.
I tell my clients that the hardest part is getting in. The welcome at the airport isn't fantastic, but once you're in, you're in, and people genuinely want visitors to come.
TW: Do would-be passengers express concerns about safety, and if so, what do you tell them?
Levine: Yes, we get that question a lot. The thing to know about Israel is that there is a lot of security around. I created this tour four years ago, and I've never had a problem.
I believe it is important to bring attention to the fact that it is possible to go beyond Tel Aviv and Jerusalem into the countryside to feel the wind in your face, smell the air and eat and drink wine with the local people.