Just keep running a little longer and then there’s wine! These are the best wine marathons in Europe
If you turn up the culinary city walk a notch when it comes to moving and consuming (at the same time), you’ll probably naturally end up at the wine marathon: every few kilometres, knock back a glass, and then just hope that one person consistently throws up in the bushes and manages to lead the whole group safely to the next stop… At least now you can always say you’re training whenever someone wonders why you’re refilling your wine glass yet again!
But how on earth do you keep that up, I wonder? I can practically feel the rosé coming back up already when I imagine the jostling from stop to stop, but apparently people really do love it. There are several of these glass-to-glass races in Europe, and at some of them you’re also allowed to walk instead of run. Phew, thank goodness! These are annual events, which are of course somewhat up in the air because of coronavirus. But the organisers are keeping their spirits up and plan to go ahead with the wine marathons in 2021 if circumstances allow. A top three:
Lanzarote Wine Run, Lanzarote
The Canary Island of Lanzarote has dry volcanic soil, and winemakers have managed to adapt traditional techniques so that special grapes can still grow in the black earth and be made into wine. It is hot in Lanzarote in summer, so if running 23 km in the blazing sun is a bit too much for you, you can opt for a 12 km course. But then you won’t get all 10 stops (and glasses) in!
Date: 13 June 2021.
Bacchus marathon & half marathon in Surrey, England
It rains quite a lot in England, which may actually be good news for runners, who can then cool down with something other than white wine. Just as the Netherlands produces delicious wine, so does south-east England. You can run 42 km around the vineyards and estates in and around Denbies Wine Estate, with plenty of Pinot pit stops. Or you can do a half. But with a full glass, please. Date: 12 September 2021.
Marathon du Medoc, Bordeaux, France
Going strong for twenty-five years, this original version is packed with classics. A full marathon (or you can choose a half) through the Médoc region, with no fewer than 23 (!) stops along the way featuring not only those fantastic wines but also tastings of cheese, oysters and steak. You do have to dress festively, but surely you can find a suitably sparkly dress to go with your shiny running shoes…
Date: 11 September 2021.
Also read:
- Why exercising with eating programmes is a very good idea
- The taste of the Netherlands? Janny van der Heijden goes looking for it!
- Workout with wine bottles: bye-bye, gym!
Images: Marathon du Medoc, Bacchus Marathon, Lanzarote Wine Run
