CALAVERAS COUNTY
The Gold Country is where California began its love affair with fine wine, and the tradition continues in Calaveras County.
We will start the day at Ironstone Vineyards. This 1,150 acre ranch produces a variety of award winning wines and grappa from their vineyards as well as brandy from the apple orchards. The 7 story winery facility is a modern replica of an 1859 Gold Stamp Mill. Our tour of the winery will feature an antique collection, art gallery, restored pipe organ, and wine aging caverns. The Ironstone Heritage Museum houses artifacts from the gold rush era as well as a wondrous 44 lb. crystalline gold rock which was found locally. Then we are off to Main Street in Murphys. Complimentary wine tastings are the norm, and there are at least 15 tasting rooms along Main Street and its side roads. Each tasting room in Murphys reflects the personality of the winemakers, and are as different as their wines are. Some are set up in rustic barns. Others are like walking into rich living rooms with custom granite bars and plush chairs. And then there's the weird and off-beat rooms.
Lunch is not included in the tour. You will be able to have lunch at the gourmet deli at Ironstone or at one of the restaurants and cafes along Main Street in Murphys. The restaraunts are inviting and top-notch with excellent cuisine, each with a unique menu.