Tag: Ironside

On a far edge of the charming California gold rush town of Murphys, Ironstone Vineyards offers visitors a genuine experience that only begins with its approachable wines. Ironstone was founded in 1989 by the gail and John Kautz family, and remains family owned and operated to this day.

A visit to the winery and visitor's center gives guests plenty of opportunities to learn more about Sierra foothills history. The wine aging caverns, which served as Ironstone's first tasting room, were literally carved out of limestone and Calaveras schist rock. The compelling Heritage Museum displays 19th century mining maps, artifacts, photos, letters, and the piece de resistance: a 44-pound crystalline gold leaf specimen of the largest in the world discovered just 15 miles from the winery's grounds. The museum houses the Heritage Jewelry Shoppe featuring native gems and other treasures.