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Day Trip Ideas Around Napa Valley
Napa Valley and the Sonoma region are well known among locals and visitors alike for providing an array of pristine day trip destinations. Whether you’re traveling alone, with friends, or taking family along with you, there is truly something for everyone. Keep...
Recipe: Summer Green Goddess Salad Dressing
Stroll the Healdsburg square and you will run into Healdsburg Bar and Grill. Dine outside on the patio and enjoy a scrumptious burger and fries with all of the fixings. They have a full bar so you can even enjoy a Moscow Mule. Chef John Hallgrimson would love to share...
Featured Winery: Dutton Estate Winery
When a visitor walks into the vineyard garden at Dutton Estate Winery, a journey into family history and the Sonoma County wine story begins. Surrounded by twenty acres of Chardonnay grapevines, visitors are greeted with the story of Joe and Tracy Dutton, and what...
Some of the Best Places to Picnic in the Napa Valley
The postcard-like scenery that Napa Valley wineries and Sonoma wineries allow residents to share in many wonderful outings, especially during the spring and summer months. Not only can you sample some of the incredible vintages these wineries produce, but you can also...
Featured Winery: Pride Mountain Vineyards
Pride Mountain Vineyards (PMV) was founded in 1990 by Jim and Carolyn Pride and since 2004 has been owned by their children Suzanne and Steve. From 2004, the winery has been run and managed by Steve Pride, CEO and general manager, who also directs the farming and...
Featured Tour Guide: Chris Largent
I started with Platypus in 2013. Prior to coming to Platypus I worked in the corporate world for about 30 years. I was in the TV and Movie industry for 15 years where I worked on TV shows such as “The Wonder Years” as well as movies such as “Robocop” and “Lethal...
Featured Winery: Charles Krug Winery
The history of Napa Valley starts at Charles Krug Winery. Founded in 1861 by a Prussian immigrant, this iconic winery and historic Redwood Cellar and Carriage House represents the great legacy of a visionary man. After Prohibition ended, another 1st generation...
RECIPE: Spring Roasted Asparagus, Sauteed Mushrooms and Flank Steak
Recipe: Grilled Flank Steak with Sauteed Mushrooms and local roasted asparagus We are all about sharing simple and fun pairings and recipes so that you can recreate your Wine Country experience at home and revel in the memories you created here. During the springtime,...
Featured Winery: Lasseter Family Winery
Lasseter Family Winery strives to make honest, balanced, graceful wines, and to refresh and replenish the resources from which these wines are made. Since acquiring the property in 2002, the Lasseter’s embarked on an environmentally sensitive upgrading for their...
7 Hidden Gems that you will find in Sonoma Valley
In all its splendor, Sonoma Valley, has more to enjoy than just wine. When you explore here, you are going to want to plan for a few days to visit the many unique offerings in Sonoma Valley. Morton’s Warm Springs Resort-A family friendly place, Morton Warm Springs,...
Mother’s Day in Napa
A special holiday is quickly approaching this Spring, can you guess which one we are talking about? The one and only Mother’s Day of course! A day dedicated to celebrating your mother, whether it is your biological mother or someone you identify as a motherly figure...
Tres Sabores
Distinctive, truly enticing, and unconventional. A "hidden gem" in the Napa Valley The Vineyards and Winery of Tres Sabores are nestled against the western hills of Rutherford where the winemaker and owner, Julie Johnson, and her family live and grow dry-farmed,...
Featured Team Member – Alison Johnston plus St. Patrick’s Day Recipe
Featured Platypus Team Member - Alison Johnston After years as a tour guide Alison is now our Director of Operations. She basically does it all and happens to also be Irish. So if you call us here in the office and hear an Irish brogue, you are lucky enough to be...
Featured Tour Guide: Linda Wright
What Linda’s tour guests have to say about her: “I had toured with Platypus two times prior (both several years ago), and this recent tour did not disappoint. Linda was a great tour guide - caring, personable and knowledgeable. My mother, who joined the tour and...
Featured Winery: Ghost Block Winery
Ghost Block winery is often on our tour itineraries. They are part of the Pelissa family’s trio of wineries in the Napa Valley. They are excited to share with you their new offering of virtual tastings that you can enjoy at home. If you haven’t done a virtual tasting...
Black History Month
February is Black History Month and we’d like to share with you some Black owned wineries in Napa and Sonoma. Sonoma County wineries: Fog Crest Vineyards - Sebastopol - producing pinot noir and chardonnay in the Russian River valley. https://www.fogcrestvineyard.com/...
Selecting the Perfect Wine Gift
By Andy Hyman Your search should begin by considering the gift recipient's tastes. Most wine drinkers have specific preferences, whether they like a dry white wine or a fun and fruity sparkling Rose' or a bold Cabernet Sauvignon. Consider what you've seen the person...
Featured Winery: Materra Cunat Family Vineyards
There’s so much to admire about Materra Family Vineyards. Discover why we love this Napa Green certified winery located in Oak Knoll, Napa Valley. In 2007, Brian Cunat decided to combine his love of wine and his dream of farming by purchasing a 50-acre property in the...
