What You Wish You Knew Before Booking a Wine Tour
(But Were Afraid to Ask)
Insider answers from the Platypus Tours crew to help you plan the perfect day in wine country.
You’ve booked a Napa or Sonoma getaway (cheers to that!) and you’re thinking about joining a wine tour. Or maybe you’ve already been on one with us and you’re dreaming of coming back for round two. Either way, we thought we’d share some real talk straight from our lead reservationists – the ones who field the most common questions, the occasional curveball, and the occasional “Wait, what do you mean by ‘tasting fees?'”
Here are the questions we get all the time—and the ones we wish more guests would ask!
“Do you have availability on [insert date here]?”
The sooner you book, the better your odds—especially for weekends, the fall harvest season, and larger groups—but in general, you don’t have to stress. Smaller private tours for parties of four or less tend to sell out, especially during busy times and seasons.
“What wineries do you go to?” / “Can we pick the wineries?”
This one is a biggie. On our small group join-in tours, we don’t know the winery lineup in advance. That’s part of the magic! Our guides choose from a rotating list of hidden gems, local legends, and lesser-known favorites based on which wineries they feel will give the best experience for their guests, variety, and other factors. However, if you’re planning on visiting wineries on your own, just let us know what they are and we’ll be happy to avoid them on your Platypus Tour. If you want to pick and customize your stops, a private tour is your best bet.
“What time is pickup?”
Pickup for our small group join-in tours varies based on where you’re staying and whether you’re in Napa or Sonoma, but it’s usually around 10:15am. We confirm the exact pickup time the day before your tour, and yes—we do pick up at your hotel or Airbnb, as long as it’s within the touring region, not too remote, and accessible by our small shuttle bus. The exception to “within the touring region” is that we do offer pick up from downtown Napa for our Sonoma Valley wine tours. Pickup times on our private tours vary & are customizable!
“How much more is a private tour?”
That depends on your group size, where you’re staying and length of your tour, but our team can give you a quick quote. Private tours are great for special occasions, groups of six or more, or anyone who wants to co-design, or entirely craft their perfect day. The biggest difference between the cost of the two usually comes down to the tasting fees. Tasting fees on a private tour vary more dramatically based on the wineries & tasting experiences chosen.
“Are tasting fees included?”
Ah, the tasting fee question—the one we both do and wish more people would ask. For small group join-in tours, tasting fees are not included. However we have worked hard to negotiate significantly discounted tasting fees for our small group tours, with most wineries charging around $25 per person. And most will waive the tasting fee for our guests with bottle(s) purchased or if you join their wine club. Private tours can sometimes include waived fees and packages with tasting fees included, depending on your choices.
“Do you pick up in San Francisco?”
Yes and no. For our Napa Valley small group join-in tour, we pick up from the Vallejo Ferry Terminal which is a scenic boat ride across the bay on select days of the week. For private tours, we do pick up in San Francisco.
Things people are surprised to learn (and love once they do)
- You pay at the end of your tour and can pay separately. No one has to spot the group or Venmo later. (Credit card information is taken prior to your tour to hold your reservation only.)
- We pick you up at your lodging in the touring region.
- Private tours are fully customizable—no set itinerary, and yes, you can help choose the wineries.
- We can accommodate all kinds of groups—from romantic getaways to big reunions.
- Our cancellation policy is super reasonable.
Join-in Tour Cancellation Policy
- Credit cards are taken to guarantee the reservation—we don’t charge in advance.
- You can cancel or change your reservation up to 24 hours before your tour with no penalty—just let us know.
- If you cancel within 24 hours, there’s a $35 per person cancellation fee.
- No-shows are charged the full tour fee.
- Payment is collected at the end of the tour; guests can pay together or separately by card or cash.
- Large groups of 7 or more traveling together may cancel or change up to 7 days prior to the tour. Inside that window, the $35 per person fee applies. No-shows are charged in full.
Private Tour Cancellation Policy
- Credit cards are taken to guarantee the reservation; we don’t charge upfront.
- You may cancel up to 7 days before your tour with no penalty.
- Cancellations within the 7-day window are subject to a 50% cancellation fee based on the anticipated tour cost.
- Cancellation fees can be applied to a future tour date booked for travel within the next six months.
- Your guide typically collects payment at the end of the day; you may pay together or separately by card or cash.
- Contracted tours or tours booked through an online travel agency or third party follow the cancellation policy outlined in your custom agreement.
You can still tour with us even if…
- You have kids or pets (we got you on a private tour!)
- You have unique food allergies or dietary needs. We have our own commercial kitchen and can accommodate most dietary restrictions.
- You know nothing about wine
- You’re totally overwhelmed and don’t know where to start
Bottom line: We’re here to make your wine country day fun, easy, and memorable. If you’ve got a question—ask it! We love helping guests feel informed and excited before they even step on the shuttle.
Already toured with us and thinking of coming back? Come see us again! Every tour is different, and your next adventure could be your best one yet.
Ready to plan your next visit? Let’s make it happen.
