Josh Phelps is a Napa-born winemaker whose wines reflect his deep roots in California viticulture, his exploration of diverse terroirs, and his commitment to accessibility and authenticity. Raised in a winemaking family (his father is Chris Phelps, a respected figure in Napa’s winemaking community), Josh’s early exposure to the vineyard and cellar planted the seeds for his own path. As a young adult, he explored other avenues—including pre-med studies and even firefighting in Idaho—but a trip to Bordeaux at 21 helped crystallize his calling in wine. Josh went on to establish Grounded Wine Co. (often simply “Grounded”), a project built to bridge premium winemaking with broader accessibility. Under this umbrella, he crafts wines across multiple U.S. regions—California, Washington, Oregon—working with trusted, sustainably farmed vineyards and maintaining rigorous standards in the cellar. In the cellar, Josh emphasizes precision, restraint, and varietal honesty—using oak and blending to support rather than dominate the fruit’s expression.