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 enjoy the sights, sounds, flavors, and excellent wines of the region.

The most critical elements of Platypus Wine Country Tours are the people, particularly our well-trained and highly engaging Tour Curators, whose mission is to ensure your experience is fun, worry-free, educational, and memorable.

Here we highlight two of Platypus Wine Tour’s most engaging curators, Patty Hiatt and Dustin Petrillo, by asking a few questions about their lives.

Learn a Bit About Our Tour Curators

When you book a private tour with Platypus, you may enjoy working with Dustin or Patty. They are two of our tour curators who work diligently crafting a one-of-a-kind itinerary to satisfy any private tour requests and preferences. They will book your winetasting and tour appointments at the wineries you have mutually selected.

The two work so well together that we wanted to profile them as our “dynamic duo.”

Recently we took some time to sit with Patty and Dustin to learn more about their likes and dislikes and ask a few not-too-personal questions about their lives away from Platypus Wine Tours:

Patty Hiatt

What is your favorite wine varietal?

Pinot noir. Fruity, earthy, light, or rich, there is a time and place for every pinot!

Which are your top do-not-miss places to see in the wine country?

Sonoma Plaza/ downtown:
Sausage emporium, Sunflower cafe, Eraldi’s, Tasca Tasca, and Sweet Scoops!
Sonoma Cornerstone
Napa waterfront
Early morning balloon watching – landings are so close!
Bouchon pastries!

What is your favorite part of your job as the curator?

I love “meeting” guests and then working to make their ideal wine country visit a reality. I’ve enjoyed planning long in advance as well as last-minute requests that just clicked into place!

How long have you worked for Platypus Wine Tours?

Five fantastic years!

What are your interests or hobbies?

Cooking is top of the list. I love reading recipes and seeking ingredients and also going to the farmers market, and getting inspired. I am learning sourdough and bread baking, which I will continue. To balance my focus on food, I enjoy hiking, golf, tennis, and ping pong.

Dustin Petrillo

What is your favorite wine varietal?

Cabernet Franc and Aglianico (Italian Varietal from Campania)

Which are your top do-not-miss places to see in the wine country?

Lake Hennessey is a must if you love kayaking. I really enjoy kayaking down the Russian River in Guerneville and stopping at Stumptown Brewery on the river to grab a beer and a burger. Hiking to the point at Bodega Bay and whale watching is also an amazing experience. As for restaurants, my go-to is Don Giovanni’s in Napa. For cocktails, I always enjoy Johnny’s in Calistoga. One of my favorite wineries to frequent is Tres Sabores in St. Helena; their ambiance is charming, and I can bring my black lab puppy, Montana, with me.

What is your favorite part of your job as the curator?

I don’t really have any specific stories, but I love connecting with people from all over the country and helping them build memorable experiences in Wine Country.

How long have you worked for Platypus Wine Tours?

I’ve been with Platypus since March of 2020.

What are your interests or hobbies?

I am an avid fisherman and kayaker. I have kayaked several lakes and rivers in the region and also have kayaked the Pacific Ocean in Capitola and the Mediterranean Sea in Italy. I love sports also and am a DIEHARD SF Giants & SF 49ers fan! One of my biggest passions is music, and I currently have a vinyl record collection of over 1600 albums that I get to spin regularly. My other passion is classic cars, growing up and working in the automotive industry, and I currently have a fully restored 1963 Cadillac Coupe deVille that I should probably drive more.