Joseph Phelps

Joseph Phelps Vineyards was founded in 1973 in St. Helena, Napa Valley, pioneering California’s Bordeaux-style red blending tradition. The flagship Insignia is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based proprietary blend widely regarded as one of California’s benchmark wines. The estate also produces Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the cool-climate Freestone Vineyards on the Sonoma Coast. Acquired by Beringer Wine Estates (Treasury Wine Estates) in 2022.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Joseph Phelps Insignia?

A Cabernet Sauvignon-based Napa Valley proprietary red blend, first produced in 1974 — one of the first wines in California to be labeled as a proprietary blend rather than a varietal. Widely regarded as one of California’s benchmark wines. The blend varies by vintage but is always anchored by Cabernet Sauvignon from the Joseph Phelps estate vineyards in St. Helena, with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec as supporting components depending on the year.

What is Freestone Vineyards?

Joseph Phelps’ cool-climate Sonoma Coast estate near the town of Freestone, producing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from vineyards strongly influenced by Pacific Ocean fog and wind. The site’s dramatically cooler temperatures compared to Napa produce Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with brighter acidity, more delicate fruit, and higher elegance — a completely different stylistic expression from the Napa Cabernet program.