SeeCalifornia.com

There’s no doubt about it–wineries are in business to make money. When the owners/investors draw plans and present them to city councils for huge amphitheaters, lavish gardens, wedding facilities, concerts and special events venues, not all the neighbors jump with glee. Aside from that, wineries in the rural areas of California such as Ironstone Vineyards in Murphys, provide entertainment and amenities locals would not normally have access to. This is true in Gold Country, on the Central Coast, in Temecula, Napa and Sonoma, to name a few regions where wineries have become inviting destinations not only for tourists but for locals looking for a place to relax and have fun.

The Kautz family envisioned the creation of an approachable, artistically and culturally rich environment that would enable them to “give back” to the community through the preservation of history and the enjoyment of the arts when they completed Ironstone Amphitheatre in 1998. Since that time luminaries such as Willie Nelson have taken to the outdoor stage to perform under the moonlight and stars. This year’s concert line up is in the works and not announced yet. But when it is, the tickets may  go REALLY FAST!  Keep watching ironstonevineyards.com.  For other outdoor concert series under the stars minus the winery on-site, check out Mendocino Music Festival (where there’s a beach on location) and Harvey’s Outdoor Concert Series at Lake Tahoe where the mountains, lake, and casinos all surround you!