Platypus Wine Tours
Historic winery directory
Historic wineries of the sonoma valley
The beautiful and historic Sonoma Valley is the birthplace of California’s wine industry. In this unique tour, an expert local historian will accompany your group as we taste delicious wine at two or three Historic Wineries. We will also tour the Historic Sonoma Plaza, the San Francisco Solano Mission and the Sonoma Barracks. Your local historian guide will provide a comprehensive overview of local history, and tell amazing stories of wine families and viticulture, along with tales of General Vallejo and the Mission era.
Lunch included; tasting/touring fees and gratuitites extra.
Buena Vista Winery
Founded by Count Agosthon Haraszthy in 1857, Buena Vista is the oldest premium winery in California. The original stone winery is now a California Historic Landmark, and home to the Tasting Room and Visitor’s Center. You will hear the amazing story of Count Haraszthy, the first Hungarian to emigrate to the United States. In 1861 the Count journeyed to Europe and returned to California with over 100,000 cuttings of fine European varietals. Buena Vista now uses exclusively Carneros district fruit, and is the largest vineyard owner in this chosen “cool-climate” region; perfect for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. Extraordinary wine.
Gundlach-Bundschu Winery
2008 marks the Gundlach Bundschu Sesquicentennial – the 150th Anniversary of the oldest family-owned winery in California. The founder: Jacob Gundlach, was a well-known author and poet, whose letters about the Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire are regarded as the finest original accounts of this disaster. You will hear his story, and taste delicious estate grown wine in a glorious winery setting, nestled up against the Mayacamas Mountains.
Sebastiani Vineyards and Winery
The history of Sebastiani Vineyards extends all the way back to 1825, when its Mission Vineyard was founded by Franciscan fathers of the nearby San Francisco Solano Mission. It is the oldest vineyard north of San Francisco. Still family owned and operated today, Sebastiani Winery was founded by Samuele Sebastiani in 1904. We will visit the original stone winery building, taste wonderful wine, and view the largest redwood barrel in the world!
Bartholemew Park Winery
Currently owned by Gundlach-Bundschu, Bartholemew Park was part of Count Haraszthy’s wine empire. We will tour the comprehensive history museum, taste delicious vineyard-specific wine, and enjoy the extensive gardens surrounding the tasting room.
Sonoma Plaza and San Francisco Solano Mission
No history tour would be complete without a stop at the beautiful and historic Sonoma Plaza, and a tour of the 21st Mission. Many original adobe buildings still line the Plaza, the largest in California. Renowned as the “Bear Flag City,” you will hear the true story of the Bear Flag Revolt. We will also tour Sonoma State Historic Park, which includes the San Francisco Solano Mission and Sonoma Barracks.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
More information about our custom tours can be found on our Private Wine Tours FAQ page.
Platypus Tours also offers Hispanic Winery Tours.
Ghost Block Estate
In 2006, over 100 years after Joseph Pelissa came to Napa Valley, the Pelissa family decided to create their own wines from the grapes they grow. Ghost Block Estate Wines, comprised of three separate brands, are meant to showcase this unpretentious family’s pride in where they live, the vineyards they farm, and their family’s deep roots in Napa Valley history.
Girard Winery
Girard Winery began in 1975 as a dream of a father-son duo. The two shared a passion for high quality wines, a respect for the Valley’s rich history and a pioneering spirit. 25 years later, another vintner with the same passion for winemaking and roots deep in the Napa Valley is continuing the Girard legacy.
6795 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 945991077 Dunaweal Ln., Calistoga, CA 94515
Glen Lyon Vineyards
In 1986, Squire and Suzy Fridell packed up their three-year old daughter and all their worldly goods to trade the freeways and the sand of Southern California for the back roads and fertile soil of Sonoma Valley. They purchased twenty-six acres of raw land, just north of the Village of Glen Ellen. The gentle rolling hills were covered with poison oak, oak trees, manzanita trees, madrone trees, bay trees, and a few redwoods. They cut a few of the trees and put in a road, got poison oak, dug a well and brought in power, got more poison oak, built their Cottage, hand-planted two acres of grapevines, and got a lot more poison oak. After a year of Calamine lotion, itching, and cottage living, they got rid of most of the poison oak, built their new home on top of the hill, started building their winery, planted a second vineyard and created a new life for themselves.
Gloria Ferrer Caves and Vineyards
Inspired by a centuries-old understanding of the balance between earth and wine, we pursue winegrowing with a respect for each vine and for each person in our extended family. Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards implemented the Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Practices and became certified in 2016.
Godspeed Vineyards
Godspeed is an artisan grower in the Mount Veeder Appellation of Napa Valley situated at an altitude of 1500 ft. The vineyard is the project of the Larry Stricker family. Since 1990 Larry has taken advantage of his exceptional vineyard by bottling half his production under his own label. Three wines are produced at Godspeed: Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Trinity. All three are made in a very elegant, almost “European: style, with an emphasis on the vineyard’s unique micro-climate, as expressed in the wine’s balance and fruit element.
Goosecross Cellars
Originally founded in 1985 by David and Colleen Topper, this small boutique winery is just five minutes from many famous restaurants in downtown Yountville and now family owned and operated by Chris Coors Ficeli, the great great granddaughter of Adolph Coors of the Coors Brewing Company. As you travel to the estate on State Lane in Yountville, one of the many backroads, you can enjoy the view from their vineyards, take in a tour, relax on the scenic deck, or watch the production of grapes as it turns to wine. Taste their Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot which are favorites here and boast incredible flavors!
Grgich Hills Estate
Their guiding philosophy is quite simple: great wines always begin with exceptional fruit. Committed to natural winegrowing and sustainability, they farm their five estate vineyards without artificial fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. They are all certified organic.
Groth Vineyards & Winery
You are invited to the Groth winery in Oakville, Napa Valley. Experience the beauty of their mission-style winery and taste the elegance of their wonderfully crafted wines.
Gundlach Bundschu Winery
Gundlach Bundschu is California’s oldest continuously family-owned winery, originally founded in 1858 by Jacob Gundlach. It is located 5 minutes from the historic Sonoma Plaza.. Today it is owned and operated by the 6th generation of Bundschu’s and known for being a place to bring families and to have fun. They specialize in making distinctive estate grown wines and typically showcase music on their property so you and your family can enjoy a fun-filled family experience. Beautiful grounds to picnic areas and plenty of places to walk around to see the history of the property are encouraged. They specialize in their red wines, but also showcase their chardonnays and roses. Many different tour offerings can be selected from a Pinzgauer tour to the historic winery tour. A lot is here to sample and see for the visitor and all ages.
Hagafen Cellars
Located at the southern end of the Silverado Trail since 1986, Hagafen has been producing award winning wines that you are invited to come try! Nestled back behind our 12 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon vines, you will find our ‘country cottage’-esque tasting room surrounded by a beautiful garden and an outdoor patio with seating for you to sit back, relax, enjoy scenery and, of course, taste some delicious Napa Valley wine.
HALL Rutherford
Hall Rutherford was founded as a sister winery to Hall St. Helena, and given as a gift to Katheryn Hall by her husband Craig in 2014. A separate location from Hall St. Helena, Hall Rutherford is located towards the end of a private road off the main road that leads to the well-known Auberge du Soleil Hotel in the Rutherford Hills. This winery is known for their high-end reserve and estate single vineyard wines that are produced in limited quantities. The views from this location are phenomenal and will surely capture your attention along with the wines. There are outdoor terraces showing the views, the tank room provides an educational experience, and the 14,000 square foot cave provides history. The cave is made with Austrian brick, contains modern works of art, and exceptional décor. If you want a unique tasting experience with high end wine this is the place for you!
HALL St. Helena
Winemaking excellence and innovation meets contemporary design in this dramatic showpiece winery. Dazzling contemporary art is displayed throughout the property.
