Philippe Melka
Consulting winemaker · Atelier Melka · Melka Estates
Bordeaux-born Philippe Melka runs Atelier Melka, the consulting team behind wines for Lail, Dana Estates, Spring Mountain Vineyard, Bulgheroni and about two dozen other Napa brands, alongside his own Melka Estates. Few winemakers have their hands in more of the valley's top Cabernets.
About Philippe Melka
- Grew up in Bordeaux; studied geology at the University of Bordeaux, then earned a master's in agronomy and enology.
- Early jobs at Chateau Haut-Brion and with the Moueix family (Petrus), then worked in Australia and Italy.
- First came to Napa in 1991 as an intern at Dominus Estate, studying its soils; returned to settle in Napa in 1994.
- Started his consulting business in 1995 (first clients Seavey and Lail), the same year he married Cherie Melka; it now operates as Atelier Melka.
- He and Cherie launched their own label in 1996; it is now Melka Estates (Metisse, CJ, Mekerra and Majestique wines), with a small winery in north St. Helena.
- Robert Parker named him in 2008 among the world's most influential wine consultants.
- Consulted for Dana Estates from 2005, where the 2007 and 2010 Lotus Vineyard Cabernets earned 100 points from the Wine Advocate.
- In 2019 longtime associate Maayan Koschitzky became a partner in Atelier Melka.
- Took on the red wine program at Phantom Creek Estates in British Columbia in 2020.
Philippe's own wines
- Melka Estates · since 1996
Where Philippe makes wine today
- Lail Vineyards · consulting winemaker
- Dana Estates · consulting winemaker
Wineries Philippe and Atelier Melka have made wine for
Atelier Melka works with about two dozen brands at a time and the list changes often; these are clients past and recent as reported over the years.
- Spring Mountain Vineyard
- Alejandro Bulgheroni Estate
- Davis Estates
- Raymond Vineyards
- Moone-Tsai Wines
- Tusk
- Fairchild Napa Valley
- Parallel Napa Valley
- Flint Knoll
- The Vineyard House
- Amlés Wines
- Roy Estate
- Vice Versa Wines
- Corliss Estates
- Zakin Estate
- Chateau Boswell
- Dalecio Family Wines
- Skipstone
- Westwood Estate Winery
- Grieves Winery
- Namo Wines
- Crown Point
- Phantom Creek Estates (British Columbia)
- Seavey Vineyard
- Vineyard 29
- BRAND Napa Valley
- Bryant Family Vineyard
- Hundred Acre
- Quintessa
- Dominus Estate
- ADAMVS
- Colgin Cellars
- Dalla Valle Vineyards
- Gemstone Vineyard
- Caldwell Vineyard
Notable wines and scores
- 2007 Dana Estates Lotus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon: 100 pts, Robert Parker / Wine Advocate
- 2010 Dana Estates Lotus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon: 100 pts, Wine Advocate
- 2016 Lail Vineyards J. Daniel Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon: 100 pts, Wine Advocate (Lisa Perrotti-Brown)
- 2018 Lail Vineyards J. Daniel Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon: 100 pts, Jeb Dunnuck
- 2019 Lail Vineyards J. Daniel Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon: 100 pts, The Wine Independent (Lisa Perrotti-Brown)
- 2021 Lail Vineyards J. Daniel Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon: 100 pts, Wine Advocate
- 2021 Melka Metisse Martinez Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon: 98 pts, Jeb Dunnuck
Recognition
- Named by Robert Parker among the world's most influential wine consultants, 2008
Taste Philippe's wines in wine country
Many of these wineries are by appointment only, and some sell only to their mailing lists. Tell us which wines you would like to taste and your chauffeur will book what is possible and build the day around it. See our Napa Valley wine tours and Sonoma County wine tours, or plan a private tour.
Sources
ateliermelka.com · melkaestates.com · napasonomamagazine.com · fortune.com · winespectator.com · wineindustryadvisor.com · bcwinetrends.com
Taste these wines with Bien
Many of these wineries are by appointment only. Tell us the wines you want to taste and your chauffeur books what is possible and builds the day around it.
Private six-hour tours with your own chauffeur and luxury SUV for up to 6 guests, from $600 plus gratuity. Bottled water and tasting appointments included.
Plan My Wine TourPrefer to talk? Call or text 833-915-2436.