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"In the late 1960’s, Joe Phelps was running one of the largest construction companies in the U.S., Hensel Phelps Construction Company, when he won the bid to build a new winery in Napa Valley. Enamored with the valley’s beauty, paired with his early love of wine, in 1973 Joe bought a 600-acre former cattle ranch near St. Helena. He immediately began planting vineyards as well as the construction of a winery. The first harvest in 1973 yielded Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Johannisberg Riesling bottlings, all custom crushed at nearby wineries. The Joseph Phelps winery was completed in 1974 in time for harvest, crushing grapes for the first Insignia and Syrah bottlings. It was a period of unparalleled activity, creativity, ingenuity, entrepreneurship and risk-taking. It put Joe Phelps and Joseph Phelps Vineyards on the map of top Napa Valley wine producers." JosephPhelps.com |