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Founded in 1972, Joseph Phelps Vineyards is an independent,
estate-based winery located outside of St. Helena.
Perched on a knoll in bucolic Spring Valley, the graceful
redwood winery overlooks vineyard-studded hills, the
town of St. Helena and the Mayacamas Mountains to
the west.
After
years of studying the complex relationship between
wine quality and place, and understanding the importance
of "terroir," Phelps has developed estate-owned
vineyards in the premiere growing regions of Stag's
Leap, Rutherford, Oakville, Oak Knoll and the eastern
foothills of Napa. In Sonoma County, an ambitious
project was undertaken in 1999 to purchase land and
develop vineyards along the western frontier of the
Sonoma Coast, and today Phelps has 80 acres of Pinot
Noir and 20 acres of Chardonnay planted in Freestone.
A small winery in the midst of the Freestone vineyards
is currently under construction.
Varietals
produced annually at Phelps include Napa Valley Cabernet
Sauvignon, Backus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Insignia
(one of California's most successful first growth
luxury blends), Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, several
Rhône-style wines, and a luscious dessert wine
made from Scheurebe.
Annual
production fluctuates between 65-80,000 cases, and
it is a source of pride that 90% of all wine produced
comes from estate-owned vineyards.
Long known for his innovative spirit and passion for
quality, Joe Phelps pioneered a number of "firsts"
in the early years of the winery. The 1974 Insignia
— released in the spring of 1978 — was the
first Bordeaux-style blend produced in California
under a proprietary label. The release of the 1974
Syrah in 1977 sparked industry-wide interest in a
remarkable French varietal whose plantings in California
had disappeared and been virtually forgotten for over
half a century. And in 1990, after years of research,
a whole new family of Rhône-style wines was
introduced which today includes Syrah, Viognier and
a Chateauneuf-du-Pape style blend called Le Mistral.
The
architecture of the winery reflects the same commitment
to quality and attention to detail as the wines crafted
within. A massive Wisteria-covered trellis made from
100-year-old recycled bridge timbers dominates the
entranceway, visually anchoring the redwood building
to the surrounding terrain. From the tree-shaded back
terrace, visitors are offered a spectacular view of
Spring Valley, St. Helena, and the Mayacamas Mountains
to the west.
Joseph
Phelps was born on a farm and spent his early years
as a working member of a farm family. In college,
he studied engineering and construction management
while working intermittently as a construction estimator.
Graduation was followed by three years as a naval
officer in the Pacific during the Korean conflict.
Upon
return to civilian life, Phelps began a first career
that included presiding over the expansion of a small
local firm into a nationally prominent construction
organization, recognized as a leader in its field.
In
1972 and 1973, Joe established the business and built
the winery which bears his name, and which over the
years has become identified as one of the most respected
benchmarks of California wine quality. The transition
from construction executive to winegrower may appear
to many as an unlikely career change, but to Phelps
it is simply a logical full circle return to earlier
priorities. "I'm very fortunate," he muses.
"I've been able to combine the relaxed and less
demanding life style of farming with a fulfilling
commitment to quality and a lifelong affection for
fine wines."
Joe
resides on the Spring Valley ranch on a hill overlooking
the winery.
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