The Story

Meredith and I met the old-fashioned way. She, a then pharmaceutical sales executive attended a wine tasting I was hosting at a prestigious Napa winery. It was alchemy: the wine, the stunning scenery and our Midwestern roots. We had our first date two days later and spoke of our dreams of becoming vintners and making our own mark on Napa. The rest, as they say, is history.

We founded Flint Knoll in 2016 and Meredith and I, two Midwestern transplants, set out to pursue our passion to produce elegant, timeless, terroir-driven Napa Valley wines. To say we are deeply committed to the pursuit of our dream is an understatement. Flint Knoll wines are the work of our hands from grape to glass and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Our approach to being vintners and stewards of our brand harkens back to the early days of making wine in this beautiful valley. So much has changed since Napa became Napa, yet we actually have a lot in common with the vintners of the late 1860s because our approach is hands-on and traditional. We are a very small team. Our wine is the result of our blood, sweat and tears and our relentless attention to the most intricate of details. We pour everything we have into Flint Knoll because this brand is our life’s work.

For this and many other reasons, we believe Flint Knoll stands alone in the prestigious Napa Valley wine space. To create our wines, we harness the brilliance of Philippe Melka who brings more than 30 years of winemaking expertise from wineries in Bordeaux and Napa Valley to our brand. And our relationships within Napa give us access to fruit from some of the most coveted vineyards on Spring Mountain, Diamond Mountain, Howell Mountain, and Pritchard Hill. Our belief in our wines is so strong that you will only see Meredith and me representing our brand. In this, we’re bringing back the old days of Napa when vintners knew their clients by name.

We have created Flint Knoll to be a true boutique wine brand created for discerning connoisseurs who demand uniquely distinguished, prestigious wine without pretention. We believe in breaking down barriers to wine and we forge personal connections to the people who purchase and savor Flint Knoll. It is this unique approach that distinguishes us.

Named after the famed rolling Flint Hills of my home state of Kansas, Flint Knoll is an ode to the Midwest and the values that guide us. Our brand is driven by FAITH – we wouldn’t be where we are today without our belief in Jesus Christ; HARD WORK – we strive to craft the most exquisite wines from the most sought after Napa Valley vineyards, and FRIENDSHIP – our customers become like family to us and drive our passion for crafting classical wines from this incredible region we are so fortunate to call home.

Philippe Melka

Winemaker

Like the celebrated wines on which he’s built his reputation, Philippe Melka’s career has been influenced by soil. A native of Bordeaux, Melka grew up intrigued by the intricacies of the land around him. He earned a degree in Geology at the University of Bordeaux and a Master’s degree in Agronomy and Enology.

Melka’s first job out of school was at Château Haut Brion. From there, he took a position with the reputable Moueix Company and was sent to Dominus Estate in Yountville to study soils in 1991. Napa Valley soil proved to be a revelation for Melka. He began dividing time between soil study and winemaking at world renowned wineries Badio O Coltibuono in Chianti and Chittering Estate in Australia. He returned to France in 1993 to deepen his expertise at Chateau Petrus.

Melka has been trained and influenced by some of the most notable personalities in the wine business such as Jean Delmas and Jean Philippe Masclef from Haut-Brion, Christian Moueix and Jean Claude Berrouet from Petrus, Paul Draper from Ridge, Daniel Baron from Silver Oak and the globetrotting wine consultant Michel Rolland with whom he continues to work with on consulting projects.

In 1994, Melka returned to Napa full time and has served as winemaker for some of Napa’s most highly regarded brands.

Maayan Koschitzky

Director of Winemaking

Maayan Koschitzky has amassed an impressive winemaking resume spanning from the vineyards of Israel to Screaming Eagle and Dalla Valle here in the Napa Valley, working alongside some of the top winemakers and among the most coveted terroirs in the world. In 2014 Maayan joined Atelier Melka and he brings a dynamic array of talents to the Melka team. With a background in Engineering and years of experience in both wineries and vineyards, Maayan plays a multifaceted role at Flint Knoll in both winemaking and operations.

We spare no expense whether with vineyard sources or in the cellar. Our focus with Flint Knoll is on producing primarily hillside grown Cabernet Sauvignon wines showcasing the pedigree of place. Flint Knoll bottlings are site expressions true to their terroir. And with that philosophy in mind, including in the cellar, our wines are distinguished by a judicious use of premium French Oak barrels.

We are grateful for your interest in Flint Knoll and are committed to exceeding your expectations at every turn.