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.
Honig
Honig was one of the first California wineries to earn the Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing certification, and Green Ceritification for their vineyards and winery. They concentrate on only supurb Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc.
Honrama Cellars
Honrama Cellars stands out as a respected winery in Napa, California. Established in 2008 by Juan and Miriam Ramirez, they’re known for crafting top-quality wines, especially their rich and balanced Cabernet Sauvignon. The name “Honrama” pays tribute to Honorio Ramirez Mata, the family patriarch, symbolizing their collective passion and dedication to making outstanding wines.
Hoopes Vineyard
At Hoopes Family Vineyard, their hearts pulse through every one of their bottles, and through the land they cultivate, too. Hoopes Family Vineyard is more than just an award-winning winery–it’s a home for the next generation of wine innovators, a new hotbed of local biodiversity and regenerative agriculture, a safe haven for animals, a hidden destination for Napa travelers, and the source of the best damn wine they’ve ever known.
Hope & Grace Wines
Derived from a dream over a decade ago to a thriving artisan winery and Yountville tasting room in Napa Valley … hope & grace began its journey as a winery in 2001 with a small production of Pinot Noir from the Santa Lucia Highlands. Today we are a modest producer of 3,000 cases annually; focusing on limited production, single vineyard, 100% varietal Pinot Noirs, Cabernet Sauvignons, Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay & Dry Riesling.
Hudson Ranch & Vineyards
Hudson Vineyards produces grapes of distinction from uniquely situated sites on two hundred acres of vineyards. Over thirty years of meticulous winegrowing and winemaking experience goes into each bottle of Hudson Wine. Additionally, Hudson Vineyards’ premium grapes are sold to 27 wineries in Napa and Sonoma counties, some of which produce wines from specific vineyard sites identified as distinct and bear the ‘Hudson Vineyards’ designation on their labels.
Huge Bear Wines
At Huge Bear, they’re passionate about making exceptional, hand-crafted wines. Each wine is made in small lots, and is meant to be enjoyed with family and friends. Their wines are inspired by California’s rich history and Sonoma County’s long-standing reputation of growing exceptional wine grapes that produce exciting wines. It’s this adventurous spirit of the west that is captured in each bottle of Huge Bear.
HUNNICUTT
They are a family-owned winery in Napa Valley that produces small lots of Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The winery was founded in 2002 by Justin Hunnicutt Stephens. Located on a hillside in the foothills of Napa’s eastern Vaca Range, HUNNICUTT features an 18,000-foot network of caves cut into the volcanic tuff. The wines are made by Justin’s good friend and noted winemaker Kirk Venge, and are sourced from distinctive Napa Valley and Sonoma County estate vineyards.
Hyde de Villaine Wines
HdV is a venture between the Hyde Family of Napa Valley and the de Villaine Family of Burgundy. The families, related by marriage, share long histories in French and Californian winemaking. In HdV, we have brought together our knowledge and experience for the purpose of creating single vineyard wines from the slopes of Hyde Vineyards.
Hyde Estate Winery
“Our winemaking and vineyard teams are proud to carry on our founder’s mandate to always strive higher, to pursue a goal of excellence, and move forward with wines that break barriers and open new frontiers.”
Imagery Winery
Joe Benzinger founded Imagery Winery in the early 1980’s which is located in Glen Ellen just outside of Sonoma. The uniqueness of this winery is in the label – there is special artwork on every label from some of the most notable contemporary artists. There are over 500 artworks by over 300 artists, and about 60 on display in the winery. They are known for experimenting with new varietals while creating the perfect blend. Try their Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon on their green grass picnic areas or in one of their intimate tasting room settings on the property.
Inglenook
Since 1975 acclaimed filmaker Francis Ford Coppola has been reestablishing the grandeur of the historic estate that was founded in 1879. His signature wine, Rubicon, is produced partially from grapes originally planted in the 1880’s.
Italics Winegrowers
The Martin family have been making wine since 2002 and in 2011 found a permanent home in Coombsville which is Napa Valley’s newest AVA, located just minutes from downtown Napa. This stunning winery is made up of an 16,000 square foot cave which is tucked into a picturesque hillside overlooking their vineyards. As you tour through the caves you’ll taste their current release wines. This intimate setting is the perfect place to learn more about the wine-making process as this is a working winery or you can just take in the beauty of the Vaca Mountains and vineyards.
