Joseph Phelps Vineyards: More Than the Flagship Wine, Insignia

Sep 28, 2021

I first visited Joseph Phelps Vineyards in the early 1990’s because of the reputation of their flagship Bordeaux-style wine, Insignia, which incorporates the finest grapes of each vintage. This winery was known as one of the first Napa Valley wineries to embrace and showcase food and wine pairings for their visitors. And why not? Bordeaux varieties show-off their power and elegance with food. That wine-food pairing experience led me back to Joseph Phelps Vineyards on multiple occasions with friends and family.

Joseph Phelps, Private Wine Tasting Rooms

The 2014 sixteen-month renovation of the original Phelps winery and terraced tasting rooms, along with eight newly created private tasting rooms, affords the serious wine taster an even greater wine and culinary experience. Led by Executive Chef Brian Sutton, select tasting experiences are offered by appointment only.

Current tasting and winery experiences include:
·      Terrace Tasting – Personalized seated tasting of current release from Napa Valley and the Sonoma Coast vineyards including Insignia, while a wine educator guides you through the selections.
·      Culinary Experiences: A variety of tastings are offered by Chef Brian Sutton and team from their “state of the art” kitchen.
·      “The Beautiful Table” experience – a 3-hour, 5-course, 7-wine experience. Usually only one per week is offered.
·      Insignia Blending – Play winemaker for the day and learn the art of blending six Insignia components, then compare your blend with the current vintage.
·      Single Vineyards, A Taste of Place – discover how the intersection of soil, microclimate, exposure, and varietal selection make a vineyard-designated wine unique. Taste 6 single vineyard wines.
·      Finding Freestone – Sonoma Coast Retrospective. Guests taste 6 single-vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vintages.
·      Virtual Insignia Retrospective Tasting – Online virtual tasting with 3 recent Insignia vintages.

The Best We Cann Be- the Life and Wisdom of Joseph Phelps

Joseph Phelps Vineyards: The History and Family

To quote the book, The Best We Can Be:

“First, after serving in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, Joseph Phelps took over his father’s small local general contracting business. He built it into Hensel Phelps Construction, an industry powerhouse that has built schools, bridges, airports, hospitals, libraries, museums, and other vital economic and social resources across America, including a launchpad for NASA and a new protective casing for the Pentagon in the wake of 9/11.

In the late 1960s, America began to awaken to the joys of wine and food, and Joe soon joined in. He embarked on a second career in the Napa Valley and created, from scratch, a winery of exceptional beauty and distinction. He joined hands with like-minded pioneers and helped transform the Napa Valley into what it is today: one of the premier wine growing regions of the world, and a dream destination for wine and food lovers from around the globe.”

Board Room and Tasting Room, Joseph Phelps

Since 1972 the Napa Valley home of Joseph Phelps Vineyards is a 670-acre former cattle ranch. Current estate vineyards span the districts of St. Helena, Rutherford, Oakville, Stags Leap District, Oak Knoll, South Napa, and Carneros. In 1999 the family purchased land near Freestone on the Sonoma Coast. With its Goldridge soils and cooler climate this location was rumored to have high potential for both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes.

Dedicated to sustainability, Joseph Phelps Vineyards exhibits the biodiversity of vineyards, olive trees, fruit trees, owl and bluebird boxes to help with rodent control, composting, and solar panels. Active family philanthropy includes a donation of 480-acre conservation easement to the Land Trust of Napa County for farmworker housing. The current Board of Directors includes Joe’s daughters Leslie, Laurie, Lynn, as well as 3rd generation family members, Elizabeth Neuman, Will Phelps, maintaining and nurturing Joseph Phelps Vineyards.

Winemaker since 2008, Ashley Hepworth has noted, “Joe never said to push further. We just did it because we all followed his lead. We did it subconsciously because that’s the kind of guy he was.”

Notable Awards

The 2002 Insignia vintage was awarded “Wine of the Year” by Wine Spectator Magazine in 2005 and Robert Parker Wine Advocate has awarded four perfect 100-point scores to the 1991, 1997, 2002, and 2007 vintages of Insignia, calling it “one of the world’s finest Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blends.”

Joseph Phelps Vineyards: Best of Tasting

I was so pleased to have a current release private tasting with Phelps’ Senior Wine Educator, Michael Cawelti, and later joined by Vice President of Sales, Jay James, MS. I came to the tasting table as a fan of the flagship wine, Insignia, and left having a greater appreciation of the breadth of the Phelps labels. The personal “best of tasting” follows. Insignia remains my favorite.