Ironstone Vineyards

Once the heart of gold country, Calaveras County is now poised to rival Napa Valley as the California's foremost wine district. Representative of the region's burgeoning viticulture is family-owned Ironstone Vineyards, specializing in fine Chardonnay, robust Cabernet Sauvignon, and a signature Verdelho made from the classic Portuguese white grape.

Complimentary guided tours of the winery are available daily except Mondays and Tuesdays. The tour includes visits to the wine production area, the wine-aging cavern, an outdoor amphitheatre, the gardens, and Lakeside Park. Other highlights are the Culinary Exhibition Center, Alhambra Music Room and Theatre Pipe Organ, the Heritage Museum, and the vineyard's Jewelry Shoppe, where custom accessories are sold. Tours conclude with samplings of the local vintages in the Tasting Room.

Other activities scheduled at Ironstone Vineyards range from cooking demonstrations and holiday brunches to the screening of silent movies, arrangement of concerts, and even gold panning for children of all ages. The world's largest Crystalline Gold Leaf Specimen is on display here, too, weighing in at 44lbs.

Ironstone Vineyards is located at 1894 Six Mile Road, Murphys, California 95247. The Tasting Room hours are from 10am to 5pm on Wednesday through Sunday, while the Jewelry Shoppe and Museum are open from 11am to 5pm on those days. The Winery Tour is offered on Wednesday through Sunday at 1:30pm, with additional weekend tours at 11:30am on Saturday and Sunday.