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.
Caves at Soda Canyon
A unique winery housed entirely in a cave, this is home to four distinct family owned wineries. The acclaimed wineries ar Waugh Family Wines, Patland Estate Vineyards, Buoncristiani Family Winery and Lobo – Wulff Vineyard.
Caymus Vineyards
Since 1972, The Wagner Family has been producing Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon at Caymus. They have gained renown and expanded into other varietals. Tastings feature Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel as well as wines from the family’s other labels Mer Soleil, Emmolo, and Conundrum. Caymus has a relaxed, intimate tasting in a beautifully landscape garden setting.
Chappellet
Don and Molly Chappellet founded the winery in 1967 on a slope of land known as Pritchard Hill located off a rural road in St. Helena. The area is now regarded as one of the best growing regions in the world for Bordeaux varietals, and Chappelet wines reflect the exceptional conditions. Experience incredible views looking down on Lake Hennessy, enjoy the barrel room for a tasting or tour through the actual winery facilities with one of the knowledgeable staff.
Charles Krug
The first tasting room in the oldest winery in Napa Valley has evolved into a modern world-class tasting experience. Owned by the iconic Mondavi family, they have introduced winemaking practices to the Napa Valley that still influence the industry today.
Charter Oak Winery
Charter Oak Winery & Vineyards in St. Helena, takes pride in being the “most original, old-world,” winery of some 500 wineries in Napa Valley. The reason to visit: See how early wine pioneers lived and made wine in Napa Valley — and taste wines which hearken back to those simpler times.
Chase Cellars
The vines are over 115 years old, they’re wise and storied — they are the heartbeat of Hayne Vineyard, and the soul of the wines produced. While the vineyard has been around for five generations, it was Andy, who developed the Chase Cellars brand back in 1998. Katie took over the day-to-day operations in 2012, with the goal of maintaining the legacy of the vineyard through sustainable farming, and business practices, so they can ensure the integrity of this place survives for generations to come.
Chateau Montelena
A historical stone castle carved into a hillside overlooking a Chinese garden, lake and vineyards reaching out to the base of Mount St. Helena. History was made when the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay was announced the winner of the 1976 Paris Tasting.
Chateau Potelle Winery
The core of the VGS experience lies in vibrant, inviting cottage in which our attitude resonates throughout – lighthearted, easygoing and (though sometimes irreverent) certainly never pretentious
Chateau St Jean Winery
Nestled in the heart of the stunning Sonoma Valley, the Chateau St. Jean estate offers wine lovers an idyllic getaway to soak in the Sonoma wine lifestyle. With incredible vineyard views, a dramatic mountain backdrop, lush gardens and the elegant 1920s chateau, our guests are invited to experience the award-winning Chateau St. Jean wine collection at their leisure, while enjoying the breathtaking ambience of the estate.Founded in 1973, Chateau St. Jean was conceived as a true fine wine estate in the European style, where wines from individual vineyards were kept separate to fully capture individual character of each site. The wines received immediate critical acclaim, and Chateau St. Jean was soon recognized as a leader in single vineyard designated wines.Today, our winemaker Margo Van Staaveren calls upon 35 years of vineyard and winemaking expertise at Chateau St. Jean to highlight the stunning vineyards we work with.
Chimney Rock
Chimney Rock has two distinct features in addition to their delicious wines. The original 180 acre parcel included a golf course which was subsequently planted to vineyards, and the buildings on the property are all in the Cape Dutch style of the Western Cape of South Africa.
Clif Family
Clif Bar co-owners Gary Erickson and Kit Crawford have married their passions for cycling, food and wine into one great destination. Come for the bike ride, stay for lunch at their Bruschetteria food truck and enjoy a tasting of their wines sourced from some of Northern California’s finest vineyards.
Cliff Lede
Located in a charming 1931 Craftsman-styly bungaloo, this tasting room combines traditional winemaking with a rock and roll edge.
