By Karen MacNeil
Insignia Rising
From a tiny seed of an idea, a whole new garden can flourish.
And so it was that in 1974 Joseph Phelps created Insignia, Napa Valley’s first premier proprietary red blend, a wine that henceforth would be known—by its name alone—as an extraordinary Napa wine. When it was first made, it stood as a singular wine in a field of Napa wines precisely labeled (often in large font): Cabernet Sauvignon. Phelps was not planning to compete against Napa Cabernet Sauvignons, however. With the creation of Insignia, he was, in a sense, competing against himself. The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.
