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There are few other sporting events during the year that reach as far across the globe as the Tour de France. For most, especially those new to the sport, it is the only event that matters or even exists. This year’s edition looks like it won’t disappoint in providing suspense and excitement.

There are few better marriages in the world than having the right beverage paired with the right food and your favorite sporting event.  And if it’s May, that sporting event has to be the Giro d’Italia.  Throughout the month the team at the Boulder Wine Merchant will be selecting a few great examples of wines from each region the Giro passes through.  We will also be providing detailed information for what to look for during each stage and for what food to pair with the perfect wine.  Let us do the legw

Quite some time has passed since I last raced a bike in Europe.  In fact, it’s been nearly a year since I broke my leg in the Giro d’Italia.  I never really knew if I would return or if I even wanted to, but two weeks ago I ventured off, still with the slow-to-heal broken leg, for a block of intense races across the pond. 

I recently was privileged to travel to Portugal for one week to visit wineries and vineyards. The main things I was asked about by friends and family as I was preparing to go were Vinho Verde and Port. In actuality I tried very little Port on my trip and no Vinho Verde. However these questions illustrate very well how little most of us know about Portuguese viticulture, to their detriment, but also to ours.

I’m sure many of you have dined at Frasca Food and Wine over the years.  You know the layout and the efforts they put into promoting and showcasing Friulian cuisine at its best.  They’ve been honored in various publications and continue to receive numerous awards across the country.  In short, they have a good thing going there.   

At this point in the year, my time spent traveling is starting to greatly out-weight my time spent at home.  Packing up my suitcase and leaving my wife behind never gets any easier.   But I consider myself very lucky to travel and race a bike professionally, and especially in an era when the internet and our smartphones help us stay so connected.

There are many appealing aspects in the world of wine - far too many to ever list. But for me, I love the fact that each bottle can transport you to a place or even a time in history without leave the comfort of your own home. To think that I can taste something that is much older than I am – that’s still alive and even improving – is just mindboggling.

I've spent the last few days traveling around Hong Kong, Beijing and Hainan Island in the South China Sea with my new cycling team, Champion System.  Along the way I’ve seen many different cultures and even though I haven’t had a drop of wine since I left the U.S., I’ve sampled nearly everything the culinary world has to offer here.