Ironstone Vineyards facts for kids
Ironstone Vineyards is a well-known winery in California. It makes several popular wines. Some of its famous brands include Obsession Wines and Leaping Horse Vineyards. Ironstone is one of the biggest wineries in the United States. It also sells a lot of wine in other countries. These include the UK, Canada, and many others. The winery has used different names over the years. These names show its family history.
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Growing Grapes in California
Ironstone Vineyards grows grapes in a few places. One important area is the Sierra Foothills. They also have many vineyards in the Lodi area. This covers about 7,000 acres (28 square kilometers).
John and Gail Kautz started Ironstone Vineyards. They were the first to plant certain types of grapes in Lodi. These included Chardonnay and other wine grapes. The Kautz family grows many kinds of grapes. Some examples are Cabernet Franc and Merlot.
Ironstone Vineyards is a family business. John and Gail Kautz run it with their sons. Kurt Kautz is in charge of money. Jack Kautz helps with managing the business.
The family also owns Bear Creek Winery. This winery started in 1934. It is one of the largest wineries in the U.S. Jack Kautz is a partner there. He helps sell the family's wines across the country.
In 2015, the Kautz family helped their community. John and Jack Kautz gave $25,000 to the Murphys Fire Protection Service. This helped the local firefighters.
Fun for Visitors
The Ironstone Vineyards place is in Calaveras County, California. It is near the town of Murphys, California. The main building is seven stories tall. It looks like an old gold stamp mill.
Amazing Gold and Music
You can see a huge gold piece at Ironstone. It is called Ironstone's Crown Jewel. This gold piece weighs about 44 pounds (16.4 kg). It is the biggest piece of natural crystalline gold ever found. You can see it in the Jewelry Shoppe.
There is also a special musical instrument. It is the Alhambra Theater Organ. This organ came from the Alhambra Theatre. It is played every day for visitors.
Special Events and Concerts
Ironstone Vineyards hosts many fun events. In March, they have Obsession Weekend. They release a new wine called Obsession Symphony. There is also an art show and other activities. Later in March, they have a daffodil flower show. This happens when Murphys celebrates its Irish Days.
Ironstone is famous for its outdoor concerts. Many popular musicians have played there. Some famous names include Earth, Wind & Fire, Kelly Clarkson, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Willie Nelson. They have also hosted Faith Hill and Chicago.
A typical year might include a fireworks show. There are also concerts with big stars. For example, in 2012, Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson played there.
In September, Ironstone hosts a classic car show. It is called the Concours d' Elegance. This event helps raise money for youth farming programs in California.
