Ironstone Vineyards

File:Ironstone Vineyards.JPG

Ironstone Vineyards is a winery that is noted for the production of several U.S. wine brands, including Obsession Wines, Leaping Horse Vineyards, Christine Andrew, Stone Valley, and Drifting.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ironstonevineyards.com/Contact-Us/Trade-Distributors|title=Ironstone Vineyards - Contact Us - Trade & Distributors|website=www.ironstonevineyards.com|access-date=2017-03-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325112959/http://www.ironstonevineyards.com/Contact-Us/Trade-Distributors|archive-date=2017-03-25|url-status=dead}} As of 2004, Ironstone has been listed as the 17th-largest winery (in terms of cases sold) in the United States.{{cite web|url=http://www.winebusiness.com/specialsection/2005/Top30Wineries.cfm?winery=17 |title=The Top 30 US Wine Companies of 2004 - #17 |publisher=Wine Business Monthly |accessdate=2008-02-23 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026113619/http://winebusiness.com/specialsection/2005/Top30Wineries.cfm?winery=17 |archivedate=2007-10-26 |url-status=dead }} Ironstone also sells significant amounts of wine in international markets including the United Kingdom, Canada, and 40 other countries. Ironstone has used a series of 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 Foothills, Ironstone draws on the production from its Lodi appellation vineyards—some {{convert|7000|acre|km2}} in all. John and Gail Kautz, founders of Ironstone, were the first to plant Chardonnay and other grape varieties in the Lodi area.{{cite web | url=http://www.winepi.com/ironstone_files/CAWG%20awards%202012.pdf | publisher=California Association of Winegrape Growers | title = John Kautz, Kautz Farms, Grower of the Year |date=January 2012 | accessdate = 2012-02-01}}{{cite journal | url = http://www.winepi.com/ironstone_files/AmericanVineyardKautzJan2012.pdf | title = CAWG Honors John Kautz Farms as Grower of the Year | journal = American Vineyard Grape Grower & PCA | volume = 21 |issue = 1 |date=January 2012 | accessdate = 2012-02-01}} The Kautz family grows numerous varieties including Cabernet Franc, Symphony, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. Ironstone Vineyards is a family-run business where apart from the husband-wife duo, John and Gail Kautz, their sons Kurt Kautz is the chief financial officer and Jack Kautz is the director.{{cite web |title=Kautz Family Golden When it Comes to Wine … and Much More |url=http://www.lodiwine.com/?method=blog.blogDrilldown&blogEntryID=08C2CD6F-DAD2-E945-9B05-2CCC24F351A3&originalMarketingURL=blog/Kautz-Family-Golden-When-it-Comes-to-Wine---and-Much-More |website=Lodi Wines |accessdate=December 12, 2017}}

The family's Bear Creek Winery, founded in 1934, is listed as having 8.2 million gallons of capacity, making it the 24th largest winery in the U.S.{{cite web | url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3488/is_7_85/ai_n6135727 | title = Largest U.S. wineries | publisher = BNet Business Network | date = July 2004 | accessdate = 2008-02-23}} Recent capacity expansions have increased this to an estimated 12 million gallons, making it around the 20th largest winery in the U.S. [https://jack-kautz.com Jack Kautz], who is also the founder of CrossFit Lodi,{{cite news |last1=Evans |first1=Dan |title=CrossFit challenge makes its way to Lodi |url=https://www.lodinews.com/.../article_16ab2325-18cf-5830-89d6-f01edf978fc1.html |agency=Lodi News Sentinel |publisher=Lodinews.com}} is a partner at Bear Creek Winery and is responsible for marketing the family's wines throughout the United States.{{cite web |title=Jack Kautz on Ironstone Vineyards |url=https://www.ironstonevineyards.com/jack-kautz/ |website=Ironstone Vineyards |access-date=2019-02-08 |archive-date=2019-02-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209125843/https://www.ironstonevineyards.com/jack-kautz/ |url-status=dead }}

In 2015, Jack appealed to the Calaveras County Planning Commission to block the construction of the Verizon tower, a mile from the winery.{{cite news |last1=Report |first1=Enterprise |title=Planners reject appeal to halt construction of cell tower near Murphys |url=http://www.calaverasenterprise.com/news/article_d271fc2c-6342-11e6-85e4-bff3a8d7b43c.html |accessdate=August 15, 2016 |agency=Calaveras Entreprise |archive-date=August 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819131513/http://www.calaverasenterprise.com/news/article_d271fc2c-6342-11e6-85e4-bff3a8d7b43c.html |url-status=dead }} In the same year, Ironstone Vineyards owners, John and Jack Kautz, donated $25,000 to The Murphys Fire Protection Service.{{cite news |last1=Lockwood |first1=Sunny |title=Kautzes deliver $25,000 gift |url=https://www.uniondemocrat.com/localnews/3704601-151/kautzes-deliver-25000-gift |accessdate=August 23, 2015 |newspaper=The Union Democrat |archive-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209180120/https://www.uniondemocrat.com/localnews/3704601-151/kautzes-deliver-25000-gift |url-status=dead }}

Visitors' center and amphitheater

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.{{cite web | url = http://www.ironstonevineyards.com/index.cfm?method=pages.showPage&pageid=eb1f8825-ab39-5c1d-5dc9-bb0647d04608 | title = About Ironstone Vineyards | publisher = Ironstone Vineyards | date = March 2008 | accessdate = 2008-03-14 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080229002539/http://www.ironstonevineyards.com/index.cfm?method=pages.showPage&pageid=eb1f8825-ab39-5c1d-5dc9-bb0647d04608 | archive-date = 2008-02-29 | url-status = dead }} The largest specimen of crystalline gold in existence {{Cite web |title=Ironstone Heritage Museum & Jewelry Shoppe {{!}} Sierra Nevada Geotourism |url=https://sierranevadageotourism.org/entries/ironstone-heritage-museum-jewelry-shoppe/6557ea26-5bbc-425c-80aa-2775af47de4d |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=sierranevadageotourism.org |language=en}} is on display in the Jewelry Shoppe. It is a 44 lbs troy (16.4 kg) gold specimen known as Ironstone's Crown Jewel.

Yearly events include the Obsession Weekend, when new wine is released, and a multi-county judged daffodil show held in March, as well as the Coucours d' Elegance car show, a fund-raiser for California youth agriculture programs held in September.{{cite news|url=http://www.calaverasenterprise.com/news/article_20526c62-3e7b-5583-8cef-0d551ceacbde.html |title=Ironstone hosts successful Springtime Obsession Weekend |newspaper=Calaveras Enterprise |first=Bethany |last=Monk |date=March 6, 2007 |access-date=May 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528182815/http://www.calaverasenterprise.com/news/article_20526c62-3e7b-5583-8cef-0d551ceacbde.html |archive-date=May 28, 2021 |url-status=live}}{{cite web| url = http://www.murphysirishdays.org/| title = Murphys Irish Days| date = 2008-02-27| access-date = 2008-02-25| archive-date = 2008-03-05| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080305164740/http://www.murphysirishdays.org/| url-status = usurped}}{{Cite web |title=Ironstone Vineyards Daffodil Show |url=http://www.seecalifornia.com/festivals/murphys-ironstone-daffodil-show.html |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=www.seecalifornia.com}}{{cite web|url=http://ironstonefoundation.org/index.html |title=Coucours Foundation |date=2008-02-27 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924161501/http://www.ironstonefoundation.org/index.html |archivedate=2008-09-24 }}

Ironstone puts on annual concerts and in the past has featured acts such as the Russian National Orchestra, Dave Koz, Robert Cray, and Michael McDonald.{{cite news |last=Elwood |first=Philip |date=2001-05-06 |title=Big-name acts press their case |work=San Francisco Chronicle |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2001/05/06/PK96448.DTL&hw=ironstone+concert&sn=002&sc=607 |accessdate=2008-02-24}}{{cite web |date=2008-03-02 |title=Ironstone Concerts Announcement 2007 |url=http://www.winepi.com/ironstone_files/ironstone_concerts_2007.jpg |accessdate=2008-03-02}}