Joseph Phelps Vineyards is celebrating its 45th Napa Valley harvest. To date, the winery has picked Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and Scheurebe as well as its first blocks of Cabernet Sauvignon from vineyards located in St. Helena, Oakville and Stags Leap District.
Sauvignon Blanc Harvest, photo by Matt Morris
“It seems like we were just toasting the beginning of our 2016 harvest,” noted Bill Phelps, Executive Chairman of Joseph Phelps Vineyards. “Each growing season and harvest are different, but one thing remains the same here at Joseph Phelps, the people. We have such a hardworking, dedicated team. Many have been with us for decades.”
The Joseph Phelps 45th Napa Valley harvest officially kicked-off on August 18, 2017 with the picking of Sauvignon Blanc at the winery’s St. Helena Home Ranch. That same day employees gathered for a blessing of the grapes and toast to the new vintage. Continuing the celebration, a staff harvest party coincided with the winery’s first day of red grape picking on September 7th.
Founded in 1973, the inaugural harvest consisted of Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Johannisburg Riesling grapes, all custom crushed at nearby wineries. The winery construction was completed in time for the 1974 harvest, yielding grapes for the landmark first Syrah bottling along with the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot that would become the first Insignia blend.
Joseph Phelps Vineyards will be marking this milestone 45th anniversary in numerous ways throughout the 2018 calendar year and announce future details at a later date.
Cabernet Sauvignon Harvest, photo by Matt Morris
About Joseph Phelps Vineyards
Joseph Phelps Vineyards is a family-owned winery committed to crafting world class, estate-grown wines. Founded in 1973 when Joe Phelps purchased a former cattle ranch near St. Helena, the winery now controls and farms 390 acres of vines in Napa Valley on eight estate vineyards in St. Helena, the Stags Leap District, Oakville, Rutherford, Oak Knoll District, Carneros and South Napa. In pursuit of an ideal location to grow Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, in 1999 the Phelps family purchased land near the town of Freestone on the western Sonoma Coast, planted 100 acres of vineyards, and built a dedicated winery. Phelps is best known for its flagship wine, Insignia, a Napa Valley blend of red Bordeaux varieties first produced in 1974. The winery offers a variety of tasting experiences seven days a week by prior appointment. More information can be found at www.josephphelps.com.
