Platypus Rocks!
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.