United States

Wine has been produced in the United States since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628.

Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states but 84% of all US wine is produced in California, over 90% in the states of California, Washington, and Oregon.

The United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.

The North American continent is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers.

Joseph Phelps

Joseph Phelps Vineyards is a winery committed to crafting world class, estate-grown wines. Founded in 1973 when Joe Phelps purchased a former cattle ranch near St. Helena in the Napa Valley, the winery now controls and farms nearly 375 acres of vines on eight estate vineyards in St. Helena, the Stags Leap District, Oakville, Rutherford, Oak Knoll District, Carneros and South Napa Valley.

Phelps is best known for its flagship Napa Valley blend of red Bordeaux varietals, Insignia, first produced in 1974. Awarded Wine Spectator’s “Wine of the Year” in 2005, Insignia is widely regarded as a qualitative benchmark for California winemaking.

In 2022, The winery has been bought by LVMH group.