Joseph Phelps Winery

In the early 1970s, a vinophile building contractor travelled to Napa Valley, fell in love with the landscape, bought a cattle ranch near St. Helena and "transformed" it within a few years into one of the most important wineries in California and far beyond. The iconic wine "Insignia" alone received the highest rating of 100 Parker points four times.

in 1998, Joseph Phelps passed the management of the business on to his son Bill, and since 2016 the third generation has also been committed to the highest quality viticulture.

Today, the family business cultivates around 170 hectares of vineyards in the Napa Valley vineyards of St. Helena, Rutherford, Oakville, Stag's Leap District, Oak Knoll District, South Napa and Carneros, as well as another 40 hectares in western Sonoma.

Even the founder was characterised by the reference to French classics. "Insignia" was and is the Cabernet Sauvignon-emphasised cuvée made from the best grapes from all the vineyards. In addition to the Bordeaux style, single-varietal Syrah cuvées are reminiscent of the Rhône. Joseph Phelps is considered to be one of the first in the USA to dedicate himself to the art of cuvée making.

Today, sweet wines are also made from Riesling and Scheurebe. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grow in the somewhat cooler vineyards of western Sonoma.

photos: Joseph Phelps Winery