In
an oak woodland in idyllic Spring Valley, Joseph Phelps Vineyards offers
one of the most in-depth, sophisticated wine tasting and educational programs
in the valley. Plan to settle in here for an hour or so.
Approaching the vine-covered, trestle-like winery, amid the sound of falling water, you will arrive on a high terrace, where the rolling vineyards of the Rutherford appellation and the distant hills may be as distracting as the luscious wines, themselves.
An innovator since the winery’s founding in 1972, Joseph Phelps introduced Insignia, the first Bordeaux-style blend produced in California under a proprietary label, and one of the first of the California-style Syrahs, followed by a entire family of Rhône-style wines, including a Chateauneuf-du-Pape-type blend called Le Mistral. If you decide to picnic under the oaks, a staff member will pair the perfect bottle of wine with your menu.
Joseph Phelps Vineyards
200 Taplin Road
St. Helena, CA 94574
tel. (707) 963.2745
Hours: By appointment only.
Tastings from $20-$30
Website: http://www.jpvwines.com
Continue
your St. Helena Winery tour with a stop at Meadowood resort,
home to the famous Napa Valley Wine Auction and a visit to
downtown St. Helena.
The article on this page is adapted from the book, Backroads of the California Wine Country by Karen Misuraca (www.karenmisuraca.com), published by Voyageur Press.
Photo Credit: The pictures on this page are by Lisa Moore. www.studioponderosa.com