Platypus Wine Tours
WINE COUNTRY DIRECTORY
Here is a handy directory of many of wine country’s best wineries. You can use this directory while creating a custom, Private Tour. Please note that Join-in Tour wineries are selected by our experienced guides.
La Rochelle Winery was founded in 2005 by Steve Mirassou of the Mirassou family which is the oldest winemaking family in North America. It is located in the heart of the Sonoma Valley in Kenwood surrounded by rolling hills, big trees, and beautiful vineyards. A small family owned winery, they are known for their single vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay varietals. Become educated on their small lot Pinot Noirs from ground up, including vineyard practices, site and clonal selection, fermentation, barrel aging strategies, blending, and the benefits of bottle aging. Guided for more than two decades by the Stotesbery family, Ladera has earned a reputation for making some of Napa Valley’s most extraordinary mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignons, along with acclaimed Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays from their Pillow Road Estate Vineyard in the Russian River Valley. Along the way, Ladera has helped to champion a beautifully balanced expression of winemaking, with smoothly structured tannins, energetic natural acidity and soaring flavors. Celebrating nearly 50 years in the wine business and a concentration in Napa and Carneros vineyards, Laird Family Estate has sought to produce wines that are a window to a place. Each one of their vineyards is different in expression: each has a subtle, yet distinctive vineyard voice. Lamborn Family Vineyards is located at 2,200 feet above sea level, high atop Howell Mountain, Napa Valley. Howell Mountain's volcanic soil, combined with its distinct mezzo climate, provides our small, organic ten-acre vineyard with ideal growing conditions. This environment produces Howell Mountain Zinfandels and Cabernet Sauvignons of the highest quality and intensity, with all winemaking by Heidi Barrett of Screaming Eagle fame. The organic grapes which eventually become Lamborn wines are exclusively from our organic estate vineyard. We take that formula one step further by organically farming the vineyard ourselves. Our annual farming decisions are based on quality and nothing else. Located at the foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains on the corner of Highway 12 and Adobe Canyon Road in Sonoma Valley, we offer daily tasting featuring Landmark’s signature wines as well as small-production, winery-only Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. A romantic cottage & an airy suite with free in-room breakfast, wine at check-in & a tour & tasting. Originally founded in 1895, the historic Larkmead estate is one of the oldest winery establishments in Napa Valley. Known for a great diversity of soil types, the estate allows the winemaker to create small-lot wines of complexity and nuance based on each soil type. John Lasseter from Pixar and his wife Nancy founded Lasseter Family Winery in 2000. The estate property is located in Glen Ellen just outside the town of Sonoma. Nestled among beautiful trees and set into the hillside, the Lasseter’s have tried to incorporate all the elements of nature into their setting for unique wines. There are colonies of honeybees on the property, an eco-friendly winery building, beautiful revitalized pond, and organic farming practices alive and well in their vineyards. They are known for producing wines with a French accent encompassing a rich array of Bordeaux and Rhone-style grapes. They will provide you with a behind the scenes tour into the tank rooms, the crush pad, and even the winemaker’s laboratory if you want, or simply enjoy the views from their comfortable patio as you sample what they have to offer. Known for extraordinary Zinfandels, Cabernets and Chardonnays, Laura Michael Swanton is zealous about vineyard sourcing and production techniques and it is reflected in the wines. In 1992 Randy and Debbie Lewis established a small family winery in Napa Valley and were later joined by their son Dennis in 1999. They are literally hands-on in every aspect of vineyard management, winemaking, sales and distribution, and thrive on this challenge and the relationships cultivated in the process. Little Vineyards Family Winery produces award winning Sonoma Valley wines. Our team is our family and our core purpose is a shared passion for our wine, music, and a sense of place we call home. We create world class wines with a Little Family feel. Established in 1995, Lokoya is a collection of four distinct Cabernet Sauvignons from four of Napa Valley’s most celebrated mountain appellations: Mount Veeder, Howell Mountain, Spring Mountain and Diamond Mountain. These limited-production wines are 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, fermented with native yeast, and bottled unfined and unfiltered, resulting in the purest expression of place. Situated in the heart of Calistoga in the north end of Napa Valley wine country, The LOLA House is a comfortable and charming home built in the late 1800s. You may find yourself sipping our wine next to the cozy fireplace inside or out in our lovely garden sitting area under the shade of our famous Japanese maple tree! A tour of the 650 acre ranch, a tasting of LMR wines paired with house prepared culinary treats with a visit to the wine cave is available at the Mayacamas estate home of Tim and Laddie Hall. In the town of St. Helena, visit the LMR restaurant, Farmstead, that showcases the wines, beef, produce and olive oils that the ranch produces. One of the first five wineries to be built after the repeal of prohibition in 1933, by Charles Krug. Visit the newly remodeled tasting room for an experience combining history and contemporary design. Nestled in the heart of Sonoma Valley, Loxton Cellars is a bustling winery with 5 acres of its own vineyard. Owner and winemaker, Chris Loxton, is dedicated to crafting wines of exceptional quality that capture the essence of the region, prioritizing balance and authenticity in every bottle. When Luna's founders first laid eyes on the Luna property in 1995, they instantly recognized the magic and the amazing potential of its estate vineyard, perfectly located along the Silverado Trail. They bought the property and followed their dream, building a winery that paid tribute to the varietals that set Napa Valley apart.