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Platypus Wine Tours
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Join-In Tour FAQ

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Your pasta and grain salads are so good! Can I get the recipes?

Yes! By popular and insistent demand, you can find our wine country recipes on our Blog for you to enjoy at home.

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Is there room on the bus to store any wine that I buy?

Yes! We have plenty of room. By all means, buy as much wine as you like.

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May I bring my dog?

Registered service dogs are welcome on the tour. We restrict non-registered service dogs because some of our guests are allergic to animals and because many of the wineries have dogs that are sometimes unfriendly to other animals.

Tags: cat, dog, pet
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May I bring my child?

Sorry, no. Your child would be confused by a group of tipsy adults singing, ‘Come on Eileen’ when they really don’t know the words. (no one really knows the words…) Fun, yes, but not pretty. Seriously, sometimes we can accommodate children, but most often not. Please give us a call if this is an issue for you.

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Am I going to look like some kind of a rube if I don’t know how to hold my wine glass?

We’re not sure. Please send us a photo of yourself holding a wine glass so that we can make that determination.

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With what sorts of people might I expect to share our Platypus Join-In Tour?

You will encounter easy-going, social people who are interested in wine, even if they don’t know much about it. They tend to become even more friendly once they’ve started tasting.

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What is your cancellation policy?

You may cancel the join-in tour reservation at any time up to 24 hours before the tour with no penalty. Cancellation fee of $35 per person will apply to any cancellations made within 24 hours of tour departure.

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How about driver gratuity?

For any reservation of four or fewer guests, tipping is at your discretion. If you are pleased with the service and effort put forth by your tour guide, you are most welcome to offer him or her a gratuity. Your thoughtfulness will be greatly appreciated. For larger groups, we’ll include a 20 % gratuity.

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What about winery tasting fees?

You should expect to pay tasting fees at the wineries. These fees are charged by the wineries, compensating them for the wines they pour for guests, and typically run about $20-$25 per person, per winery. For more information, please read about Wine Tasting Fees and Coupons.

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Will you add any taxes or fuel fees to our tour price?

No taxes. No fuel fees.

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How will I get my wine home?

You may ship wine from the wineries – most of the wineries we visit are able to ship to almost any state (Not Utah or Mississippi–sorry!). You can buy a wine shipper box from us on the bus for $15 (holds up to 12 bottles), fill it up and check it on your return flight like luggage. You can also buy a fabulous Wine Check from us for $70.

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May we have wine with our picnic lunch?

Yes. If you purchase a bottle of wine at the lunch winery, they will open it for you and provide you with glasses.

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Any beverages?

Yes. Chilled, bottled water is served on the bus and also with the picnic lunch.

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Will you accommodate vegetarians and other dietary restrictions?

Yes! We are rather good at accommodating a variety of dietary needs, particularly dairy and gluten restrictions. Please give us advance notice. We’ll serve a hummus & veggie sandwich for vegetarians. The rest of the lunch is already vegetarian.

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What will you serve for the picnic lunch included in the join-In Tour?

This is a light & charming boxed picnic lunch served at one of the wineries we visit on the tour. It consists of deli turkey sandwiches on fresh sliced Ciabatta bread, home made fresh pasta or grain salad, sliced fruits (some combination of apples, pears, Asian pears, pineapple and/or watermelon), a rolled-oat dessert cake and bottled water. Sandwich condiments are served on the side.

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Can we get to one of your pick-up locations by public transit?

This can be challenging, but possible. Please check out these websites for suggestions: www.sctransit.com

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If we drive in to meet the tour, won’t we be too tipsy to drive at the end of the day?

We advise people who drive in for the day to arrange to hang out and have dinner in the neighborhood in which you’re parked before driving back to your destination. Better yet, you might consider staying at a local inn or B&B. Please contact us for suggestions.

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Will you pick us up at hotels in San Francisco for the Join-In Tour?

No, (sorry). You are welcome to drive in and meet us for the tour. We have a central meeting location for each tour that has all-day parking & many restaurants where guests can grab a bite to eat & relax before heading back at the end of the day.

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How long will we spend at each winery?

No set time. Some winery experiences take longer than others. The average is about an hour at each winery. We’ll spend a little longer at whichever of the wineries we use for our picnic lunch.

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How do you determine which wineries would be best for our group?

  • Rave reviews from previous tour groups.
  • Smaller, non-touristy locations
  • Excellent wines, moderately priced
  • Warm & friendly service
  • Perks available (cave tours, barrel-tasting, wine-maker available, etc.)
  • We try our best not to visit wineries whose tasting fees exceed $20-$25 per person, though this is not always possible.
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May we pick the wineries?

If you are sharing the bus with others, your tour driver will take responsibility for planning the best tour day possible for the entire group. We are careful to avoid taking people to places they may have already visited, so be sure to let us know if this is the case.

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Can this tour really be as fun as it sounds?

Incredibly, yes! Even we are amazed by how fun it is.

Tag: pets, cats

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How do your vehicles differ from a traditional limousine?

Our shuttle buses vary in length, and are taller in height than limousines. You will be able to stand in, and walk on and off them. They have large, tinted windows, so that the views from any side of the vehicle are visible.

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What sort of vehicles do you use for these Join-In Tours?

Our vehicles are small tour shuttles. They have perimeter seating, like a conversation pit, so guests can better get to know each other.

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Do you offer half-day tours?

Sorry, no. We can’t possibly show you enough in a half-day tour. If you would like to join one of our tours late, or leave it early, that is possible. You can also request a price quote for a half day Private Wine Tour.

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Will you cancel a tour in the event that too few people book it for that day?

No way, baby! We never cancel a tour for that reason. We almost always have a good-sized group on board, though.

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How many guests are normally on your tour?

It varies. Our Join-In Wine Tours usually have between eight and twelve guests on board.

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What is the minimum number of people you will pick up?

One person.

Private Tour FAQ

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At what point do you begin charge? When do you stop?

Your tour officially begins at your scheduled pick-up time. It ends at whatever time we drop off you and your guests.

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What if we want to stay out on tour later than our return?

No problem. We’ll just charge for however long you remain out.

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Can we play our own music?

Yes.

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May we bring our pet on tour?

It’s possible, but let’s talk about it. Many of the smaller wineries have dogs that are territorial, and many larger wineries prohibit pets, so we’ll need to build an itinerary around those factors.

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Private wine tour process

You can book a Platypus private wine tour by selecting one of the *vehicles* we offer, or by completing our *custom quote* form to have a price quote emailed to you. If that quote works for you, let us know and we’ll get your wine tour booked. 

Once you’re booked in, we’ll ask you what you have in mind for your day.

Some of our wine tour clients have already set up their own winery appointments. If that’s the case, just let us know which locations and at what times you’ve reserved.

More commonly, we find a lot of folks need some experienced help. If you need your appointments made for you, or help figuring out which would be the best wineries for you to visit, one of our tour curators would be happy to customize the day and make winery appointments based on your preferences. There is a flat cost for these services that will be outlined in your quote.

Once your day has been planned and appointments made, we’ll email your finalized itinerary.

On your tour day, one of our (most-awesome) tour guides will pick you up and use that itinerary to conduct your tour.

We expect that you’ll find this process to be straightforward and easy. It’s the best way to navigate the complexities of the wine country!

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Private Wine Tour Pricing

There are a great many variables involved with wine tour pricing, but we’ve done our best to simplify the process.

You can view our vehicles & request pricing for a specific vehicle.  Click here to see these options

If you fill out this short form we can send you the vehicle options & pricing best suited for your group size: Quote Form

We are usually able to get all of these turned around the same day.

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Why tour privately?

We’ll host your private wine tour in a vehicle that is dedicated to just you and whoever is in your party. Included is a friendly and personable tour driver who also happens to be a well-informed wine tour guide. The wine tour vehicle may be a car, a van or a shuttle bus, depending on the number of passengers in your group.

This differs from our Join-in tours in that your vehicle will not be shared with any passengers not in your party.

Private tours are perfect for any of the following:

  • You want to have your tour day tailored to your preferences
  • You want to select any or all of the wineries you’ll be visiting, or at least you want to approve them
  • Sharing the experience with folks you don’t know is not what you have in mind

Private Tour For Celebrations

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Can we get the bus decorated for our celebration?

Um…sure. What did you have in mind?

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Can we drink on the bus?

Alas, no (sorry!). We have found that too many guests are liable to get too drunk when they are consuming alcohol at all of the winery stops and in the bus, as well.

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How about bachelorette parties?

We love ’em. We’ll help you plan a day that is fun and light-hearted and truly memorable, particularly for the bride-to-be.

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Is this a good activity for a birthday party?

Heck yes. Your guest of honor gets to spend all day with her or his closest friends in festive, but intimate settings.

Private Tour For Lunch Options

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Can we eat on the bus?

Yes.

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Can we bring our own lunch?

Yes. We can help you figure out a good location to eat it.

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Do any wineries provide lunch?

Only a handful, and they are often mobbed around lunchtime. For large groups, you can work with a caterer. Wineries usually have a caterer or two that they work with, and those companies are allowed to set up meals at those wineries. We are happy to make suggestions along this line.

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If we lunch at a winery, can we have wine with our lunch?

Yes, but it must be wine from that winery. This is a California state alcohol regulation.

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What if we have allergies or dietary restrictions?

Almost any of these can be accommodated by pretty much any of the lunch providers.

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Are there other options?

Yes, several. There are restaurants and delicatessens and catering options. We’re very happy to help you select whichever option is best for your needs.

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Does Platypus Tours provide lunches?

Yes we do. We operate a commercial kitchen with a very talented kitchen staff. We can provide a tasty boxed picnic lunch that you can enjoy at one of your wineries.

Private Tour For Non-Winery Options

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What else?

Glad you asked! We can arrange olive oil tasting, cheese tasting, cooking demonstrations/ classes, art galleries, museums, zip-lining, hiking, horseback riding, team-building activities and more.

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How about breweries/distilleries?

Yup; we can help you there, too.

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Can we add some shopping?

Sure. Locations like the Oxbow Market, the V. Marketplace and the Napa outlets are great for shopping. There’s also great shopping on the Sonoma Plaza, the Healdsburg Plaza, Downtown Napa, and the main drags in Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga.

Private Tour For Picked Up and Dropped Off

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Can you pick up our group from more than one location?

Yes. We’ll work that timing into your tour itinerary.

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How much does the ferry charge?

As of 2023, the one-way ferry rate between Vallejo and San Francisco is $9.30.

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From SF, can we take the ferry to the wine country?

Absolutely. You can take the ferry in both directions, or you can have us come to San Francisco to pick you up in the morning, then drop you at the dock to take the ferry back to the City at the end of the day. These options will reduce your tour fees.

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Do you pick up from locations outside of the wine country? (San Francisco or the South Bay, for instance)

Yes, though the pricing for such tours is different.

Private Tour For Tasting Fees

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Do the wineries accept bitcoin?

Don’t be silly.

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Do all of the wineries accept credit cards?

Yes.

Tag: Visa, Mastercard

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Can we just have all tasting fees included in our tour cost so we won’t have to worry about them at the wineries?

We do have an option for prepaying your winery tasting fees. Ask about this when you book your tour.

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Do wineries waive the tasting fees if we’re purchasing wine?

Mostly yes, but every winery has its own waiving policies. Many won’t waive for larger groups.

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Can we set a limit for tasting fees on our tour?

No way, dude. Just kidding! You may absolutely set a limit, and we’ll do our very best to honor it

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How much do wineries charge for tasting fees?

If only there was a simple answer to that question! Tasting fees seem to start at $40pp, but most are more like $45-$55pp. Some charge a bit more. Some charge a lot more. Many offer up-graded tasting experiences at higher prices. Many charge a higher rate for groups. We’ll help you navigate the offerings.

Private Tour For Tour Planning Process

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What is the best time to begin our tour?

Almost all the wineries are open from 10am to 4pm or 5pm, so use that as your guide. Also, wineries tend to get busier and busier later in the day. If you want to visit a popular winery, have us book it as early in the day as possible, that way you’ll avoid the crowds and probably have a better experience there.

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Can you coordinate with our dinner plans?

Sure, probably. We’d need to know what those plans were, to be sure. And we can perform your dinner transportation if you need that service.

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What if we’re not sure how many people will actually come until much closer to the date?

That’s kind of a tough one, but we can help you through it. First, we’ll encourage you to reach out to your friends and let them know it’s kind of important that they commit sooner. That may motivate some of them. With the wineries, it’s easier to work with a tighter range than a really wide range of possible attendees.

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What other stuff?

Well, for instance, how far in advance are you booking your tour? Many wineries will book up as we get closer to your tour date, particularly on Saturdays and particularly in the Summer and Fall. Wineries are more likely to book up in the later afternoon, so we need to be very proactive about locking those appointments down early, too.

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What are the considerations for choosing wineries for our tour?

If we’re putting together a tour plan for you, we’ll take all of the following into consideration: Your preferred wineries (if you have any), your favorite wines, the types of experiences you are interested in. Idyllic winery locations for your picnic lunch, if you need that. How many guests in your party (many wineries have limits). Driving logistics, such as the distance between wineries and how long it will likely take to get you from one place to another. Our impressions of the level of customer service and wine quality at each winery. Other stuff, too.

Private Tour For Tour Vehicles

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Are there bathrooms on the bus?

No. Go before we leave. Seriously, there are restrooms at each of the wineries, so we are almost always close to our next set of facilities.

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To what degree are your vehicles safe?

Great question! Like all California transportation companies, Platypus Tours is regulated by the Public Utilities Commission and the California Highway Patrol. We are subject to regular terminal inspections, during which our vehicles and our compliance documentation are thoroughly inspected. We are very serious about safety and compliance, so we have always passed these inspections with flying colors. Our vehicles are all safety-inspected by a certified mechanic every 45 days. Additionally, drivers are required to inspect his or her vehicle before every tour. Brakes and oil are serviced regularly. All servicing and inspections are documented. All of our commercial drivers undergo regular physical examinations, as well as random drug testing and disclosure of their driving history. There are restrictions in place for how many hours they may work in a day and how many days they may drive in a week. I could go on and on… I live & breathe this stuff. These regulations are strict, but very sensible, and we applaud our state for being so proactive in keeping the public safe.

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Is there storage for luggage?

Yes, but not on all of our vehicles. Please let us know about this need when you book your tour so that we can be sure to assign the best vehicle for you.

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How about club-style seating?

These vehicles have a combination configuration, including side-facing seats, front-facing seats and a table with four seats facing it. Our guests tend to break up into smaller, more intimate sub-groups on these buses, and multiple conversations can be transpiring at the same time.

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What’s with the salon seating?

This term means the seating has been configured along the perimeter, so it has the feel of a conversation pit. Most of our vehicles set up this way, and it has always been a big hit with our guests. This makes it very easy to interact with your fellow passengers.

Private Tour For Wine Regions

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Can we visit Napa and Sonoma in the same day?

The short answer is yes. Some Napa Valley wineries are close enough to some Sonoma Valley wineries to include on the same tour without spending an excessive amount of travel time. Others are not. We can help you work it out.

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Which region should we select to tour?

The regions are similar to one another in many ways, so travel time is probably the biggest consideration. If you are staying in one of the regions, it makes a lot of sense to tour in that same region. If you’re driving in to meet the tour, pick the one closest. As a general rule, North Sonoma tends to be the best value for tasting fees and wine purchasing. There are some other differences, so ask us and we’ll help you figure out which is best for you.

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What are the regions to choose from?

We serve three regions: the Napa Valley, the Sonoma Valley, and North Sonoma (comprised of Russian River/Dry Creek/Healdsburg area/Alexander Valley)

Private Tour For Wineries

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How many wineries will we visit over the course of the tour?

It depends on how much time you’ve chosen for your tour. It’s hard to see more than four in one day, though.

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When are the wineries open?

10:00am to 4:00pm, though many are open until 5, and a few don’t close before 6.

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What do you mean by ‘winery experiences’?

Yeah, I guess I should expand on that. Here are some examples: Wine and food pairings, wine cave visits, wine barrel sampling, meeting with winemakers or owners, vineyard visits, old vintage tastings, facility tours, cheese pairings, chocolate pairings, historic estates & chateaus.

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Which are the best wineries to visit?

There is no single winery that would be best for everyone. Once we’ve discussed what types of wines you like and what types of winery experiences you are interested in, we can begin suggesting wineries that we think would please you most.

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May we select the wineries we’ll visit?

Yes. We are happy to our best to secure your appointments at whichever wineries you ask for. You may select any or all of the winery stops.

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How many wines are sampled at each winery?

It varies, but most pour four to eight tastes.

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How many wineries altogether?

Are you hoping to get to all of them? We don’t know anyone who has managed that! Technically, there are probably over a thousand in Napa County and Sonoma County combined. However, many are not open to visitors. Our tours visit just over two hundred different wineries per year.


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Napa Valley Wine Tours & Sonoma Tours | Platypus Wine Tours

You can avoid all of the work and stress of planning your Napa Valley or Sonoma wine region visit by allowing us to guide you through a most compelling and memorable day in the wine country!

On our small group join-in wine tours, you’ll meet other wine adventurers on a roomy shuttle led by one of our friendly and informative tour guides. We’ll pick you up from your area lodging for a day filled with fun, flavor and adventure!

Or…make it private! We’re happy to accommodate couples or groups of any size for customized tours through the wine country.

Join-in Tours Private Tours