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.
Paradise Ridge Estate
Opened in May of 1994, the Paradise Ridge estate is a haven where guests bring their friends to savor vineyard-designated wines and take in sweeping wine country views. Their estate tasting room and events building, as well as their wine making building were destroyed in the fires of 2017. Luckily their vineyards and art survived and became a source of comfort to the community. Rebuilt and opened in the fall of 2019, the tasting room and events building are again a stunning setting to enjoy estate wines.
Paraduxx
From the first vintage, to the creation of the incredible, modern winemaking facility Paraduxx goes hand in hand with innovation.
Parallel Wines
Parallel Wines is the only winery with a direct association between Park City, UT and Napa Valley, CA. In an homage to skiing, Parallel refers to the tracks first left after an initial run down the ski slopes. The label is creatively designed and reflects these “ski tracks.”
Paravel Wines
Paravel features balanced, approachable and age-worthy wines made in the owner’s distinct style, which manages to be frisky and refined at the same time. Music to your mouth.
Patland Estate Vineyards
From the beginning, the family has striven to create opulent wines that exemplify the beauty and harmony of the Napa Valley. Today, you are invited to join the journey and experience the artistry that is Patland wine. Cheers!
Peju
The Peju family started their winery over 30 years ago and the second generation, daughters Lisa and Ariana, are taking over the mantle. Food and wine pairing adventures as integral to their philosophy.
Pestoni Family Estate Winery
The Pestoni Family Estate Winery upholds the high standards and practices of their great-great-grandfather’s winemaking tradition without compromise. From growing to harvest, fermentation to bottling, every step in our process is accomplished by hand to achieve the purest expression of place. For them, winemaking is not a business, it is heritage. They are honored to produce premium wines that not only express the distinct personalities of each of the estate vineyards, but also preserve something of their family history.
Peter Cellars
Peter Cellars is a small, family-owned winery crafting top-notch wines. They blend the distinct terroir and fruit flavors from their Sonoma estate with traditional French winemaking methods to create exceptional quality.
Pina Napa Valley
Truly one of Napa Valley’s secret wineries, perched above the Silverado Trail east of Rutherford, the tiny winery is home to five vineyard designated Cabernet Sauvignons from vineyards that the Pina family farms in the Napa Valley.
Pine Ridge Vineyards
Pine Ridge Vineyards has been a leader in crafting iconic Cabernet Sauvignon wines from Stags Leap District since 1978. The winery lies tucked beneath a ridge of pines, with a full view of the rugged outcropping of palisades that speak to the dramatic geologic origins and its world-famous soils.
PlumpJack Winery
In 1995, Gavin Newsom and Gordon Getty stumbled upon a magical piece of land in the heart of Oakville, Napa Valley. Inspired by one of Shakespeare’s most memorable characters, Sir John “PlumpJack” Falstaff, who’s fun-loving, down-to-earth disposition is only rivaled by his fierce loyalty to Prince Henry V, with whom he shares more than a few goblets of sack (wine) at the local tavern. They pay allegiance to our world-class vineyard by crafting high-quality wines that honor the land, and they celebrate the convivial spirit of the namesake with their inviting, approachable style.
Porter Family Vineyards
First established in 2005, Porter Family Vineyards is owned and operated by Tom and Beverly Porter and is located in the hills on the edge of the Coombsville Region east of the town of Napa. It has wonderful views looking North into the Napa Valley and it backs up to the Skyline Wilderness Park. A unique aspect to this boutique winery is that it is entirely underground, made up their 17,000 square feet of caves. Due to the owners’ expertise in the computer software industry, the winery is known for its high level of technology controlled systems operating the caves and the vineyards. Cabernet Sauvignon and other red wines are their specialty. The sandpiper bird is their signature picture and label on their bottles, symbolizing the sandpiper fossils found on their property when they were digging the cave.
