Joseph Phelps

In the late 1960s, Joseph Phelps was running the largest construction companies in Colorado founded by his father — Hensel Phelps Construction Company in Greeley, Colorado — when he won the bid to build Souverain Winery (now Rutherford Hill) on a hillside east of Silverado Trail. Enamored with the Napa Valley and contemplating a career change, in 1973 he bought a 600-acre cattle ranch in Spring Valley, and began planting vineyards and 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 Vineyards was completed in 1974 in time for harvest, crushing grapes for the first Insignia, the winery’s signature Bordeaux blend that would receive worldwide acclaim. That wine, Phelps landmark line of Rhome wines and other bottlings put Joseph Phelps Vineyards on the valley’s map of top wine producers. Phelps gradually divested his interest in the family’s construction company, selling it to his employees. He graduated from Colorado State University in 1951 with a degree in Construction Management. He served as a lieutenant in the United States Navy during the Korean conflict. Phelps purchased the Oakville Grocery Company and was involved in operating it for many years. He became a private airplane pilot at the age of 60 and earned his instrument rating soon thereafter. He gave back to the community through many philanthropic initiatives. Some of the organizations closest to his heart were St. Helena Hospital, the St. Helena Women’s Center, the Land Trust of Napa County, and Colorado State University. In 2001, he donated land from his home ranch to Napa County for the creation of the River Ranch Farmworker Housing Center. With his first wife, Barbara Ann Phelps, Joe raised a family of four children, all of whom were at his side at his passing: Leslie Phelps, William Phelps (Andrea), Laurie Anderson (Todd) and Lynn Finch (Richard). He was proud grandfather to eight grandchildren, and, most recently, great-grandfather to two great-granddaughters.