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.
Modus Operandi Cellars
You know, wine is one of those things that to many people, can incite a tremendous amount of feelings and emotions. Wine is enchanting and mysterious, gives joy, confuses, and inspires. In many cases, these complexities lead to a love which leads to a strong passion for wine.
Monticello Vineyards
The Corley family owns and manages some of the finest vineyard properties in the world and from them are wines produced of singular quality and distinction. The 80 acre Monticello Vineyards estate in the Napa Valley with vineyards and winery, tasting room, as well as culinary and hospitality facilities has been a destination for fine wine lovers and visitors from around the world since the 1980’s.
Moone-Tsai Wines
Proud to share remarkable limited production wines, whose subtle balance of elegance, structure, power and finesse are a striking embodiment of the noble lion, protector of Bacchus, who graces their label.
Mumm
Established by the French Sparkling Wine house GH Mumm in the late 1970’s, the winery produces Sparkling Wines with grapes sourced from over 50 vineyards considered to be the finest sources of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Also visit their photography gallery.
Napa Cellars
What is created from the land ought to express its character. Wine, perhaps more than anything else, has the innate ability to convey a sense of place, to tell the story of the soil, the wind, the earth beneath the vines. Napa Cellars’ wines are the story of Napa Valley.
Napa Wine Company
Their business is a family tradition and they pride themselves on that reputation of quality, authenticity, consistency, and continuity. The people at Napa Wine Company help uphold those values year to year. Their loyalty, passion, and determination is the key to success at Napa Wine Company.
Neal Family Vineyards
Neal family Vineyards is located up Howell Mountain off Deer Creek Rd. It is estate grown wines with a nice cave and grounds. Very family oriented. Varietals are Petit Syrah, Sav Blanc, Cab Sav, and Chardonnay.Two winery dogs meet you at the front door.
Newton
This spectacular winery is set on 560 acres ranging in elevation from 600 to 1,600 feet above sea level, with panoramic views of the Napa Valley and beyond. The formal gardens, underground wine caves and elements of the owners English and Chinese heritage make this one of the most striking wineries to visit in Napa.
Neyers Vineyards
Neyers Vineyards sits in the heart of the Napa Valley but Bruce’s experience with French wine importer Kermit Lynch has had an undeniable influence on the wines. Many of the French producers Bruce works with farm organically, make their wines naturally without use of cultured yeast or laboratory designed malo-lactic starter, and bottle their wines without fining or filtration. Neyers likes their results and utilizes many of their ideas.
Nichelini Winery
Established in 1890, Nichelini Family Winery is the oldest family-owned winery in Napa Valley. A visit to the Nichelini Family Winery offers an experience of the Napa Valley the way it used to be: serene, rustic, and independent. Get away from the crowds and travel the 8 miles up into the hills east of the Silverado Trail, past Lake Hennessy and through the scenic cliffs of Sage Canyon Road.
Nicholson Ranch
Nicholson Ranch Winery, owned by a winemaker, sits on 40 acres along Highway 121 between Sonoma and Napa Valleys. It’s uniquely located where Sonoma Valley, Sonoma Coast, Napa Valley, and Los Carneros meet. Operating as an Estate winery, they grow, make, and age their wine on-site, specializing in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with smaller batches of Merlot and Syrah. Their gravity-flow design, positioned above the caves, ensures the delicate flavors and aromas of their Estate wines are preserved.
Nickel & Nickel
Dedicated to producting 100% varietal, single vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon as well as a small collection of single-vineyard Chardonnay, Merlot & Syrah. The charming Sullenger House is a handsome restored farmhous with Queen Anne details.
