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EXPERIENCE WINE COUNTRY NEWS
What Napa Valley AVA Districts sit higher than the valley floor?
Several distinct growing areas lie within the comparatively small agricultural region of Napa Valley’s Wine Country California. Challenged by the diversity of microclimates, soils, moisture levels, elevations, and other conditions, vintners successfully produce a full...
Bama Macaroni Salad
So, to satisfy everyone’s curiosity and enhance your summer BBQ season, Platypus presents our recipe for this tasty dish to pair with any of your favorite Napa or Sonoma Valley wines. Bama Macaroni Salad by Platypus Wine Tours Gather these Ingredients One pound of...
Recipe: Thai Cabbage Slaw
With the weather warming up and grilling season fast approaching, it's SLIDER time! We love sliders for how quick and easy they are to make, as well as for all the fun customizing opportunities. What wine will you pair? It depends on your meat and condiments. Pinot...
Discover the Napa Valley AVA
During the past century, Napa Valley has become one of the world’s most important wine-producing regions in the world. The excellent climate, multiple soil types, and varying elevations of Napa Valley contribute to a spectacular growing environment for nearly all...
Recipe Feature from Platypus Wines Tours
Spice-rubbed Chicken with Green Beans and Olive Pesto TOTAL TIME: 20-30 minutes Serves 4 GATHER THESE INGREDIENTS 4 chicken breasts, boneless (Note: Skin on is ok; skin off for lower-fat) 10 oz fresh green beans 1 large shallot, sliced into rings 1 lemon,...
Noteworthy Dessert Wines: Iced and Sweet
When grapes remain on the vine longer, the sugar content increases. In many instances, vineyard managers intentionally delay picking certain varieties to produce sweeter dessert-type wines. Here are three sweet wine categories that many enjoy: Ice Wine: What is It?...
Salmon with Cilantro-Lime Topping + Pear & Nut Salad
TOTAL TIME: 20-30 minutes Serves 2 (just double your ingredients to serve a family of 4) GATHER THESE INGREDIENTS 2 4 oz salmon fillets, skin on ok 1 tsp minced garlic Cilantro, fresh, small bunch, divided (½ finely chopped, ½ coarsely chopped) 1 lime zest + juice 1...
Winter in the Vineyards: Dormancy
Once the harvest has finished, Napa and Sonoma wineries focus their attention on turning those carefully nurtured grapes into world-class wines. However, there is still plenty going on in the vineyards. Once the grapes are gone, and the weather turns chilly, the vines...
Ham, Pear & Cheddar Monte Cristo Sandwiches
Quick & Easy for Busy Holiday Gatherings As the leaves turn in Wine Country and the air begins to chill, we turn to a little comfort food. This month we love to share our quick and easy Monte Cristo Sandwiches which are perfect for both lunch and dinner. Cut...
Holiday Gift Certificates for All to Enjoy
Many of the visitor-friendly businesses of glorious Napa Valley offer Holiday Gift Certificates that you may use during the upcoming holiday season or anytime later. Gift certificates can be perfect for anniversary gifts (perhaps your own?), birthday presents,...
Platypus Wine Country Tours November Recipe Feature
Salted Caramel and Sticky Date Pudding With the arrival of sweater weather, we will be seeking to serve up something delicious and festive to friends and family. For many Platypus Wine Tours guests across the country, the temperature is already substantially lower...
Thanksgiving with Friends and Family in Napa
As Thanksgiving nears, we begin pondering those gatherings with family and friends to give thanks for all your blessings and enjoy the traditional food and drink. But, as most of us know, these beautiful experiences all add up to an enormous amount of hard work and...
Guide Feature: Tour Curators Dustin and Patty
Platypus Wine Tours offers a wide variety of fascinating, educational, and enjoyable Wine Tours and winetasting opportunities throughout Napa Valley and Sonoma Wine Country. Whether join-in or privately reserved, Platypus Wine Tours allow visitors to safely relax and...
Recipe Feature: Fall Squash Raviolis Recipe
Here in wine country, we’re always pursuing the epicurean lifestyle. It’s the endless array of food, wine, art, and leisurely offerings that make Napa Valley and Sonoma such dream-worthy destinations. With the arrival of Fall, we’re excited about so many of the...
Recipe Feature: Beet Salad
With Fall around the corner, we’re so looking forward to the abundance of the familiar produce that tends to adorn our dining table right through to Thanksgiving. Besides being delicious, beets are great way to bring a salad to life, or to serve as an exciting...
Featured Tour Guide: Gary Grossman
Gary Grossman is one of our fine Napa and Sonoma wine tour guides. Gary's long time commitment has been delivering the best experience for our wine country visitors. I asked Gary a little more about his time in Napa as a Platypus Tours wine guide. How long have you...
Top 7: New Restaurants in Napa Valley
I strolled through Downtown Napa recently and marveled at all of the new businesses that have opened since March 2020. I want to share with you all of the new restaurants you may try on your next visit to Napa Valley. Empress M - There aren’t too many Chinese...
Featured Winery: Auburn James Winery
Since 2005, Platypus Wine Tours has offered highly educational and enjoyable wine tours to Napa Valley and Sonoma County wineries. Safe, fun, and memorable, Platypus tours are available for groups, private, or as join-ins. During the nearly two decades of experience...
