A recent newspaper article praised Murphys as recession proof. While that might not be entirely true, it is a fact that this Gold Rush town in the Sierra foothills has shown remarkable resiliency over the centuries.

An economic renaissance in the town was sparked in large part by one man, Barden Stevenot. Stevenot had already made his fortune as a major partner at Kirkwood Ski Resort and other development projects. In the early 70's, the Angels Camp native bought an old ranch outside Murphys and began planting vineyards. The success of Stevenot Winery brought other vintners to the area, where they too discovered the rich soil and gentle climate ideal for everything from Zinfandel to Merlot to Chardonnay grapes.

Today, Murphys is booming. The population has grown 50% to 3000 people just in the past few years. There are great restaurants, and good hotels both historic and new. Most important, people are flocking to Murphys for that ideal combination of affordable accommodations, meals, and wines. Unlike Napa and Sonoma, most wineries still don't charge a tasting fee, and their recent vintages are winning more than their share of international awards.

We visit some of the top wineries in the Murphys area: Stevenot, where it all started; Ironstone, where the Kautz family has created a complete venue that includes dining, entertainment, shopping and tasting; and Black Sheep, where Dave and Jan Olson purposely keep their family-run winery focused on quality, not quantity.

Contacts:
Stevenot Winery
2690 San Domingo Road
Murphys, CA 95247
(209) 728-3436
www.stevenotwinery.com

Black Sheep Winery
P.O. Box 1851
Murphys, CA 95247
(209) 728-2157
www.blacksheepwinery.com

Ironstone Vineyards
1894 6 Mile Road
Murphys, CA 95247
(209) 728-1251
www.ironstonevineyards.com

Murphys Suites
134 Highway 4
Murphys, CA 95247
(209) 728-2121

Murphys Chamber of Commerce
Murphys, CA
(209) 736-0049
www.visitmurphys.com