Ironstone Vineyards
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Ironstone Vineyards is a winery located in Calaveras County in the California Sierra Foothills. Its wines are derived from grapes both local to their production facility outside Murphys, California as well as from the Lodi, California area.
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[edit] Ironstone Wines
Ironstone is noted for several leading US brands. These include the Ironstone Vineyards brand with its "IronStone" logo, 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.[1] Ironstone also sell significant amounts of wine in the international markets including the UK, Canada and 40 other countries.[1]
[edit] Lodi Grape Growers
In addition to vineyards in the Sierra Foothills, Ironstone draws on the production from its Lodi appellation vineyards -- some 4,500 acres in all. John and Gail Kautz, founders of Ironstone, were the first to plant chardonnay and other wine varietals in the Lodi.[citation needed] 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.[2] Recent capacity expansions have increased this to an estimated 12,000,000 gallons, making it around the 20th largest winery in the U.S.[citation needed]
[edit] Visitors' Center
The Ironstone facility is located in Calaveras County, just outside of Murphys, California. The seven-story building is built in the shape of a gold stamp mill.[3]
A 44 lb. gold specimen, the largest specimen of crystalline gold in existence[4], is on display in the Jewelry Shoppe. The Alhambra Theater Organ, taken from the Alhambra Theatre, 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.[5] Later in March, as Murphys celebrates its Irish Days[6], Ironstone hosts a multi-county judged daffodil show. Ironstone puts on annual concerts and in the past have featured acts such as the Russian National Orchestra; Dave Koz; Robert Cray; Michael McDonald[7]; The Doobie Brothers; Los Lonely Boys[8]; Earth, Wind & Fire; Gretchen Wilson; John Michael Montgomery; Lynyrd Skynyrd; UB40; Vince Gill; Amy Grant; Peter Frampton; B. B. King; and Huey Lewis & The News.[9]
In September, Ironstone hosts the Coucours d' Elegance car show [10] as a fund-raiser for California youth agriculture programs.
[edit] References
- ^ a b The Top 30 US Wine Companies of 2004 - #17. Wine Business Monthly. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
- ^ Largest U.S. wineries. BNet Business Network (July 2004). Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
- ^ About Ironstone Vineyards. Ironstone Vineyards (March 2008). Retrieved on 2008-03-14.
- ^ Dazzling floral displays greet Ironstone visitors. Sacbee.com (2006-10-02). Retrieved on 2008-02-24.
- ^ Monk, Bethany. "Ironstone hosts successful Springtime Obsession Weekend", Calaveras Enterprise, 2007-03-06. Retrieved on 2008-02-24.
- ^ Murphys Irish Days (2008-02-27).
- ^ Elwood, Philip. "Big-name acts press their case", San Francisco Chronicle, 2001-05-06. Retrieved on 2008-02-24.
- ^ Community Calendar (2006-07-27). Retrieved on 2008-02-24.
- ^ Ironstone Concerts Announcement 2007 (2008-03-02). Retrieved on 2008-03-02.
- ^ Coucours Foundation (2008-02-27).
