Come Along on an E-Bike Adventure in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley

​Have you ever considered an e-bike tour? When I saw a social media post for the Shenandoah Valley Winery Tour with Burg E-Bike Tours, I knew it would be a fun place to take my first e-bike ride. I had never ridden an electric bike, so what better place to start than Shenandoah County on a warm October day? It might even get me closer to my dream of going on an e-bike tour in Europe, lazily pedaling through the beautiful countryside. We hit the road for our Sunday afternoon tour, driving 80 miles from Northern Virginia to Edinburg, Virginia, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Come along for the ride as we take you on a Shenandoah Valley Winery Tour!

The historic Edinburg Mill, where we began our tour, is a Virginia Historic Landmark that managed to survive “The Burning”  that occurred throughout the valley during the Civil War. It’s also home to the Shenandoah Valley Cultural Heritage Museum & Visitor Center. Take a few minutes to browse the historic items in the Gift Shop area, even if you don’t have time to venture up to the second and third floor of the museum.

Once we all had gathered in the parking lot and got settled with our bikes, our guide gave us some basic e-bike instructions. After a few spins around the lot, our group of just over a dozen riders hit the road! As a first time e-bike user, I absolutely loved the pedal assist function, especially for getting up hills! The extra throttle made it even easier to get started and climb hills. All in all, it was a much more pleasant way to enjoy the beautiful views along the way! 

Read: 2 Day Shenandoah Valley Van Adventure

Over the 4-hour tour, we rode about 20 miles, traveling to 3 different wineries. The ride took us on back roads with little traffic, a gravel road, and a few minutes on main roads as we left and returned to Edinburg. Riders should be comfortable riding on the road. I think the biggest issue for first-time e-bike riders to be aware of is how much heavier an e-bike is versus a regular bike, especially when starting and stopping. It’s easy to let the weight of an e-bike carry you over. Also, on a tour, you need to pay close attention to the rider directly in front of you. 

From the parking lot at the Edinburg Mill, our first stop was at Wolf Gap Vineyard and Winery in Edinburg, where we enjoyed a flight of some of their most popular wines shown in the cover photo, including a blueberry-infused red wine and a delicious Rosé, the Lobo Loco! Enjoy your tasting outside or on the covered pavilion while enjoying the beautiful views. A small food menu is available. All 3 of the wineries we visited are members of the Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail, which includes over 20 wineries. 

Back on the bikes, we traveled over rolling hills and gravel roads before arriving at our 2nd stop, Cave Ridge Vineyard in Mount Jackson. Another spacious outdoor space greeted us at the top of a winding driveway which we coasted up with ease! In addition to a collection of estate-grown wines, they offer a lite fare menu, with additional seasonal specials on weekends. A glass of Traminette and a refreshing sorbet hit the spot. 

Our final stop for the day was the Winery at Kindred Pointe, also in Mount Jackson. Try the Chambourcin, a Virginia Governor's Cup winner, if you enjoy red wine. They also make several varieties of hard cider, 3 of which were available during our visit. Relax on a cozy sofa in the Pavilion, and browse the shop for fun wine-related items to purchase. It was a perfect spot to rest before our longer ride back to the starting point. The winery is also home to a 21+ Wine Tasting Room and Lounge at the Stables. 

The ride back to the starting point was the longest part of the ride, with a few more cars on the road. The best part was arriving back at the parking lot and not feeling worn out from pedaling! I’m definitely sold on renting e-bikes in other locations. 

​Here’s a Few Things to Know Before You Go on the Burg E-Bike Tour:
* The tours are seasonal, with the fall season winding down in late October/early November, so plan now for an e-bike adventure in 2025. Tours typically begin in April.​

* The company currently runs tours in two locations: the Shenandoah Valley Wine Tour which leaves from Edinburg and is offered on Saturdays and Sundays, and the Crozet Wine Tour (closer to Charlottesville) which was only offered for a limited number of days in 2024.
* Bring water and dress for the weather; be sure to wear shoes suitable for biking, and bring your own bike helmet if you have one. 
* Most riders were dressed casually, with no special biking attire necessary. While the bike seats were comfortable, I was glad I wore my bike riding pants with extra padding. 
* Our guide had a bike trailer and offered to carry any bottles of wine purchased.
* As mentioned above, e-bikes are heavier than regular bikes so be extra careful when starting and stopping.