Ironstone Vineyards
Ironstone Vineyards is noted for several leading US brands, including Obsession Wines, Leaping Horse Vineyards, Christine Andrew, Stone Valley, and Drifting. As of 2004, Ironstone has been listed as the 17th largest winery (in terms of cases sold) in the US. Ironstone also sells 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."
In addition to vineyards in the Sierra Foothills, Ironstone draws on the production from its Lodi appellation vineyards—some 7,000 acres (28 km2) in all. John and Gail Kautz, founders of Ironstone, were the first to plant chardonnay and other wine varietals in the Lodi area. 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.
The Ironstone facility is located in Calaveras County, just outside Murphys, California. 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, the largest specimen of crystalline gold in existence, 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. 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 the Russian National Orchestra; Dave Koz; Robert Cray; Michael McDonald;The Doobie Brothers; Los Lonely Boys;Earth, Wind & Fire; Jeff Beck; Gretchen Wilson; John Michael Montgomery; Lynyrd Skynyrd; UB40; Vince Gill; Amy Grant; Peter Frampton; B. B. King; Huey Lewis and the News; Steely Dan; ZZ Top; Chris Isaak; Bonnie Raitt; The Moody Blues; Don Henley; Willie Nelson; Alan Jackson; Crosby, Stills & Nash; Faith Hill; Chicago; The Fray; Lady Antebellum; Sugarland; Faith Hill; Sheryl Crow; REO Speedwagon; Al Green and others.
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