A Message From Bill Phelps

October 28, 2008. Fall is most definitely in the air in wine country. As I write this, mornings are getting chillier and the sun is setting noticeably earlier. The last of this year’s grapes were harvested on Thursday, October 23. At both Freestone Vineyards and Joseph Phelps Vineyards, we are all excited about the quality of the 2008 vintage and are sure we’ll have some wonderful wines to share with you in the future.

Change is also in the air: as reported earlier in this newsletter, we are thrilled to announce Ashley Hepworth’s promotion to the position of Winemaker at Joseph Phelps. She has been an invaluable member of our team for many years, and you’ll no doubt get a chance to see more of her at dinners, tastings, and events going forward.

We all are looking forward to celebrating the holidays of November and December. In the spirit of celebration and thanksgiving, I want to express my gratitude to the countless people who have made 2008 a memorable year.

The continued support of our customers – at all levels, including club members, distribution partners, and so many others – has been remarkable, especially in view of the extremely challenging state of the global economy.

Most important to me personally has been the support, friendship, dedication and professionalism of all the people who work at Joseph Phelps Vineyards and Freestone Vineyards. We believe we have the finest team of employees in the world of wine, and that their contributions are abundantly on display every time you open one of our bottles.

In that spirit, I send the best wishes of the extended Phelps family to all of you who enjoy our wines worldwide.