A Napa Valley or Sonoma wine country private tour is about experiencing the aspects of northern California wine country that best match your interests and desires…and perhaps introduce you to a few that you wouldn’t have thought of, or sought, on your own.
And private wine tours are a natural fit for corporate groups and special occasion wine tour excursions. But don’t forget the other reasons that you may opt for a private wine tour.
Sure, a “private wine tour” is just for you and yours, versus a small-group wine tour which is a shared experience, but that’s just one element.
What do you get on a private wine tour?
- Pick up and drop off anywhere within a 2-hour drive of Napa
- Vehicle of your choice (based on fleet availability)
- A friendly local, expert guide / driver
- A day customized to your preferences
- You can create your own itinerary, or
- You can add our tour planning curator service that will create, schedule, and book your appointments for you (small curator fee applies).
- Non-wine stops are an option for private tours, including breweries, distilleries, museums, etc.
- Optional picnic lunch from Platypus’ on-site kitchen that can accommodate most dietary restrictions. Alternatively, a deli stop or restaurant can be worked into the day. Or, you can bring your own!
When you use Platypus’ curator services, we’ll help craft a day that pairs your wine tastings with your passions. Whether a vinyl and wine tasting experience or a walk through Armstrong Redwoods Natural Reserve, we’ll craft a wine-country-your-way day.
Know that a private wine tour does not mean that winery appointments are flexible because they customarily are not. Wineries often require appointments. A well crafted day ensures an optimal wine country experience and your expert guide will keep the day flowing smoothly.
What’s the cost and how can I save money?
Different from small-group wine tours which have per person pricing and discounted tasting fees, a Napa Valley or Sonoma wine country private tour pricing is based on an hourly rate which varies by vehicle and sometimes by the day/season.
The biggest price difference comes from the wineries or non-winery stops you choose. Winery tasting fees vary greatly based on the experience. Our curators are skilled at working within your budget.
There are some little known ways to save money on a private wine tour.
- Keep your group to six or fewer: smaller vehicles have lower hourly fees; and winery tasting fees increase for larger groups (counterintuitive, but true). Another benefit to smaller groups is that your winery options increase. Many great wineries can’t host large groups.
- Bring your own picnic lunch (with permission). Some wineries allow outside food and many do not.
When is a small-group tour a better option?
Platypus small-group wine tours are a fun, lighthearted, and social way to experience this world-class winemaking region at a great value. You don’t need to know a lot about wine, just be open to learning a bit more about it, and about the history of the region and winemaking. You’ll visit three smaller-production, character-rich wineries and, if you like, try wines you can’t get back home. You may even discover your new favorite. Local area lodging pick up and drop off, and lunch are included.
- You’re looking for the best value for an authentic wine tour experience of hidden-gem wineries.
- No planning required – ideal for a spontaneous wine country day.
- You don’t have specific wineries you want to visit. Or if you do, you plan to visit those separately.
- You don’t mind sharing the experience with a few other wine-adventurers (average small-group size is 8-12 people)
- Spontenaety! Small group wine tours in Napa and Sonoma Valley are offered daily and can often be booked the morning of the tour.
Is a private wine tour worth it?
A private wine tour comes down to one thing: having a day that fits you. It’s about intention—choosing the places, the setting, and the experience that truly reflect what you’re looking for. When the day is built thoughtfully, everything else falls into place. If that sounds like your kind of wine country experience, then yes, it’s worth it.
Platypus Tours Marketing Teammate
Platypus Tours, Guide Alumni
