Ironstone Vineyards
Encyclopedia
Ironstone Vineyards is a winery located in Calaveras County
Calaveras County, California
Calaveras County is a county located in the Gold Country of the U.S. state of California. Calaveras is the Spanish word for skulls; the county was reportedly named for the remains of Native Americans discovered by the Spanish explorer Captain Gabriel Moraga. As of the 2010 census, the county had a...
in the California Sierra Foothills. Its wines are derived from grapes both local to their production facility outside Murphys, California
Murphys, California
Murphys is a census-designated place in Calaveras County, California, United States...
as well as from the Lodi, California
Lodi, California
Lodi is a city located in , in the northern portion of California's Central Valley. The population was 62,134 at the 2010 census. The California Department of Finance's population estimate as of January 1, 2011 is 62,473....
area.
Ironstone Wines
Ironstone is noted for several leading US brands. These include the Ironstone Vineyards brand, Leaping Horse Vineyards, Dog Tail Vineyards, and Sonoma Creek. As of 2004, Ironstone has been listed as the 17th largest winery (in terms of cases sold) in the US. Ironstone also sell significant amounts of wine in the international markets including the UK, Canada and 40 other countries. Ironstone has used a series of somewhat different names and bottle designs including "Kautz Ironstone Vineyards," "Ironstone Vineyards," "IronStone," and, most recently, "Ironstone 4th Generation Family Growers."Lodi Grape Growers
In addition to vineyards in the Sierra FoothillsSierra Foothills AVA
The Sierra Foothills AVA is an American Viticultural Area in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the state of California in the United States. Wine grapes were introduced to the area in the nineteenth century during the California Gold Rush...
, Ironstone draws on the production from its Lodi appellation vineyards—some 4500 acres (18.2 km²) in all. John and Gail Kautz, founders of Ironstone, were the first to plant chardonnay and other wine varietals in the Lodi. The Kautz family grows numerous varieties including Cabernet Franc, Symphony, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
The family's Bear Creek Winery, founded in 1934, is listed as having 8,200,000 gallons of capacity making it the 24th largest winery in the U.S. Recent capacity expansions have increased this to an estimated 12,000,000 gallons, making it around the 20th largest winery in the U.S.
Visitors' Center
The Ironstone facility is located in Calaveras CountyCalaveras County, California
Calaveras County is a county located in the Gold Country of the U.S. state of California. Calaveras is the Spanish word for skulls; the county was reportedly named for the remains of Native Americans discovered by the Spanish explorer Captain Gabriel Moraga. As of the 2010 census, the county had a...
, just outside of Murphys, California
Murphys, California
Murphys is a census-designated place in Calaveras County, California, United States...
. The seven-story building is built in the shape of a gold stamp mill.
A 44 lb (20 kg). gold specimen, Ironstone's Crown Jewel
Ironstone's Crown Jewel
Ironstone’s Crown Jewel is the world’s largest piece of crystalline gold. At 44 pounds troy , it is substantially larger than the Fricot "Nugget" and the Whopper , the next two largest specimens.-Crystalline gold:Gold is usually found in an amorphous state: the atoms are connected, but not...
, the largest specimen of crystalline gold in existence, is on display in the Jewelry Shoppe. The Alhambra Theater Organ, taken from the Alhambra Theatre
Alhambra Theatre, Sacramento
The Alhambra Theatre opened in 1927 and was the preeminent movie house in the greater Sacramento area for many years. It was designed in the Moorish style of the great Spanish cities and included a large courtyard and fountain. The interior was lavishly appointed with red carpet, gold trim, and...
, is on display as well, and is played daily.
In March, Ironstone celebrates its Obsession Weekend in which its new Obsession Symphony wine is released in conjunction with a juried art show and other events. Later in March, as Murphys celebrates its Irish Days, Ironstone hosts a multi-county judged daffodil show. Ironstone puts on annual concerts and in the past have featured acts such as Coldplay, the Russian National Orchestra
Russian National Orchestra
The Russian National Orchestra premiered in Moscow in 1990.It was the first Russian orchestra to perform at the Apostolic Palace, Vatican and in Israel....
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In September, Ironstone hosts the Coucours d' Elegance car show as a fund-raiser for California youth agriculture programs.