John Kautz Farms has been in the wine-grape growing business since 1960. We currently farm nearly 4,500 acres of wine grapes near Lodi, California. We are in the Orchard Tree and Vine business.

Mar 31, 2023 · “Kautz: A Story of Family and Farm in California” written by the late Kevin Starr, former California state librarian, chronicles the history of Ironstone Vineyards founders John and Gail...

Oct 15, 2020 · Kautz moved back to Brown County in 1859 and bought a 163 acre farm near Higginsport in Brown County. He raised horses, corn, and wheat on his farm, but his cash crop was Broadleaf tobacco. In October 1862 he enlisted as captain of Company G, 59th Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

Kautz & Kramer represents a culmination of a lifetime of passion and dedication. John Kautz, the son of hardworking German immigrants grew up on his family farm in Lodi, California. His parents moved to the U.S. in search of the “American Dream” and purchased a small parcel of land.

For their entire lives, John and Gail Kautz have sowed their own seeds of impact. Between their family, community, farming, and perhaps the most significant, the next generation of agriculturalists, the meaningful investments they have made do not go unnoticed.

During the late 1960s, the development of the mechanical tomato harvester saved the California processing tomato industry and led to great expansion of production. As others were entering the industry, Lodi tomato farmer John Kautz saw difficulties on the horizon and began diverting his acreage to wine grapes.

Mr. Kautz is Chairman of Ironstone Winery and owner of Kautz Farms. Currently, Mr. Kautz oversees approximately 7,000 acres of wine grapes. Over the years he has served on many state and national industry boards and Commissions. He is also active in numerous civic and community service organizations. “Giving back to the community is

Dec 12, 2023 · The Kautz family has had a long and fruitful history in California agriculture. Frederick and Marie Kautz came to America from Germany in 1926 to pursue the American dream, settling in California. They acquired land in Lodi and began farming in 1940.

Mar 28, 2025 · Kautz Family Farms, a 147-acre winegrape operation in Lodi, received a 2019 State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) grant award of $84,000. The SWEEP grant, part of California’s effort to promote sustainable farming practices, supports growers in adopting energy-efficient technologies and water conservation practices that ...

With over 7,000 acres of vineyards in the Lodi and Sierra Foothills appellations, Kautz Family Farms is a major supplier of wine grapes to the California wine industry. Kautz Farms started in the hands of John Kautz, a young row crop farmer from Lodi who saw a future in growing wine grapes in the region.