Though a bit of a silly name (Platypus is an homage to the Aussie founder, I believe), there certainly wasn't anything silly about a near perfect day with Casey, our driver and guide. Picked up (early) at our hotel in Sonoma mid-morning, we picked up four other couples and proceeded to a boutique spin-off of a corporate winery - nice tasting room, decent wines and great art work, Imagery Winery was a good start to the day. The second winery, Loxton, was the highlight of the tour, as the husband, wife and one employee worked a 5 acre farm with all the values and considerations that makes them a stand-out of "Doing things the right way". We finished at Wellington, another, though larger producer, with pride and excellence, a hallmark of their beautiful setting and capable wines. Of special note, an excellent box lunch, made in Platypus' kitchens, was had out doors at Loxton. I like that the company keeps track of their guests, so they assure you of not going back to one of the 30+ wineries they visit - I also like that the driver picks the wineries for the day, and our excellent guide/driver/local/good guy chose wineries in close proximity, thus spending our time tasting on a relaxed schedule. A great value for a full day of comfort, convenience and conviviality. Having to pay tasting fees (or buying wine to waive the fee) was not overwhelming - in fact, there was never pressure to buy. Overall, an exceptional bargain for a perfect day in a remarkable place.
Claim your business profile now and gain access to all features and respond to customer reviews.
Join us on a Platypus small-group wine tour of the Napa Valley, the Sonoma Valley or the Russian River / Healdsburg wine country! $129 per person ($139 on Saturdays)
You’ll visit three charming, back-roads wineries and be served a picnic lunch in an idyllic winery setting. Your tour guide will tell fascinating stories and share many interesting tidbits about local history, culture and wine making.
Our specialty is intimate, light-hearted and truly memorable wineries. This tour is sure to entertain with a very approachable and easy-going style. Discover and savor new experiences tasting some of the world’s most celebrated wines. Our typical guest is not necessarily a wine expert but keen to learn a bit about wine and wine-making, and is open to sharing the experience with a few other like-minded wine adventurers.
Here are the features:
• Your tour of intimate wineries is crafted for you by your Platypus tour guide
• Our long-standing relationships with many wineries result in enhanced tasting experiences for our guest
• It’s a small group tour on a shuttle bus with limo-style seating (10-12 guests, usually)
• We actively negotiate with wineries on behalf of our guests to keep tasting fees reasonable
• Your guide will set up a tasty picnic lunch for you at a picturesque winery
• Pick-up and drop-off from local area hotels is included.
• We serve plenty of water on board
• We can accommodate vegetarian, gluten-free and most other diet restrictions
We also offer private tours for social, corporate, team-building and incentive groups
We’ll help you make the most of your precious time in the Wine Country!
707-253-2723 www.platypustours.com
TCP-21230-PSee more
