Philippe spent much of his youth in Bordeaux, France, earning a geology degree from the University of Bordeaux. On a whim, he took a wine course- a decision that changed his life.

Philippe’s journey started at Chateau Haut Brion, where his passion for cabernet-based blends and sauvignon blanc began and he completed a masters program in Agronomy and Enology under the direction of Professor Sequin, the renowned terroir specialist. He was fascinated by the relationship between soil and wine quality, a fascination which continues today.

Yearning to know more, he set out for Napa Valley (Dominus Estate), Western Australia (Chittering Estate), Chianti in Italy (Badia O Coltibuono) and Bordeaux (Chateau Petrus) where he divided my time between soil study and winemaking. However, the great diversity of terroirs He found in Napa Valley, and its potential for extraordinary wines, was a revelation to him.

His Brand, Melka Wines, has chosen to focus on wines that represent single vineyard, soil specific wines from the heart of Napa Valley.