Northern California is home to a LOT of vineyards. It can almost be overwhelming when it comes to deciding which one to visit next. We can help out with that! If you have yet to visit Ironstone Vineyards in Murphys then you’ll want to plan a visit soon. This humongous vineyard is a prime destination all year long but it’s especially known as an alluring fall destination. Don’t write this place off as “just another vineyard”. This place has a lot more to offer than that. In fact, it’s somewhat of an adult playground, complete with beautiful gardens, a large amphitheater, museum, and so much more. It’s even regarded as one of the largest vineyards in the country. Take a look:
Hiding out in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains is a quaint mountain town known as Murphys. The lovely little town is a former gold mining settlement and has a ton of historic attractions to check out. However, it's also home to over two dozen wine tasting rooms and a plethora of local vineyards.
One of these vineyards is the illustrious Ironstone Vineyards. Ironstone is most well-known for selling humongous amounts of wine in both local and international markets. You've probably seen several of their leading brands in your local market such as Obsession Wines, Leaping Horse Vineyards, and Stone Valley. In fact, Ironstone is considered the 17th largest winery in the entire country when it comes to the amount of cases it sells.
However, you'd be remiss if you wrote off Ironstone as a typical giant producer of wine. The vineyard, located just outside of Murphys, is one of the most unique you'll ever visit. Their motto is "Come for the wine. Stay for the day." and it really couldn't be more accurate. There's a lot to do and see at Ironstone—enough to fill an entire day!
First of all, the area is absolutely beautiful. Northern California's Gold Country is one of our best-kept secrets and this is a great place to experience it.
Don't just take our word about this place. The locals love it as well! It was voted "Best Local Vineyard, Tasting Room, and Local Wine" in Murphys. Check out their rustic and charming tasting room where the tasting fee is just $5 for five wines. Complimentary tours are provided in the tasting room at 1:30 pm Wednesday through Sunday.
Afterwards, make your way to the stunning wine caverns. The caverns remain a year-round temperature of 60 degrees and are used to hold barrels upon barrels of wine. It may have been man-made, but don't be fooled. This is a real cave that contains naturally created stalactites, stalagmites, and other geologic formations.
The vineyard is also home to a "Heritage Museum" which was established as a tribute to California's Gold Rush. Here you'll find all sorts of 19th century artifacts from the region, including the largest specimen of crystalline gold in the world. At a whopping 44 pounds, this thing is certainly impressive.
There's no better way to top off your visit then by taking some time to peruse the on-site gardens. These gardens contain thousands of plant varieties and species, along with antique mining and railroad equipment, over 14 acres.
This place is so much more than your average vineyard. It's a place to decompress, relax, and enjoy the stunning scenery that Gold Country has to offer. There's a reason Ironstone is considered one of Northern California's premier wine destinations. If you love wine, history, and natural beauty, you'll want to make a visit soon. You'll find it at 1894 Six Mile Road Murphys, CA.
Have you visited the 17th largest vineyard in the country? This place looks amazing! We could definitely spend all day here. There sure are a lot of vineyards to visit in our state. However, The Oldest Winery In Northern California should be near the top of your list.
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