Featured Winemaker: Jim Binns, Andremily Wines

Andremily Wines owner and winemaker Jim Binns has managed to become one of the greatest producers of Rhône-varietal blends in California’s Central Coast.

Binns has had a direct hand in developing some of the most highly collectible Californian wines ever made during his 12 years as assistant winemaker to Manfred Krankl at Sine Qua Non.

At the heart of Binns' winemaking philosophy is a reverence for nature and a dedication to sustainable practices. He meticulously tends to his vineyards, employing organic and biodynamic methods to nurture the vines and preserve the land for future generations. By working in harmony with nature, Binns believes he can coax out the true essence of the grapes and create wines that express the purest expression of their terroir.

Binns' portfolio encompasses a diverse array of varietals, each crafted with precision and care to showcase the unique characteristics of the grapes. From elegant Chardonnays to bold Cabernet Sauvignons, his wines exhibit a remarkable depth of flavor, balanced acidity, and silky tannins that captivate the palate.

Featured Winemakers: Philippe + Cherie Melka, Melka Estates

As co-proprietors and winemakers for Melka Estates, Philippe and Cherie produce four distinct brands:  Métisse and CJ from Napa Valley, Mekerra from Sonoma Valley, and Majestique from sites around the world.

Born in Bordeaux, Philippe has degrees in Geology, Agronomy and Enology.

A chance encounter with Jean-Claude Berrouet, the technical director for Christian Moueix's Château Petrus, took Philippe across the pond to the Moueix-owned Dominus in California in 1991. After work was complete at Dominus, he did a stint at Ridge with Paul Draper, which is where he met Cherie, who was working as a lab technician. Cherie boasts a degree in

Microbiology and a diploma in French Studies from the University of Bordeaux III. 

The beginnings of Melka Estates started in 1996, after Philippe and Cherie moved back to Napa Valley from France. They decided that they would love to produce their own label, despite each working for different wineries. They started modestly with only two wines in 1996: Métisse and CJ for a total case production of 500.

The organic growth that ensued over two decades has resulted in them having two estate vineyards, their own winery and ten distinctive wines in their portfolio.  They work side by side using their strengths and knowledge to decide harvest dates, fermentation protocols, maceration length, barrel regime and final blends before bottling. 

Featured Winemaker: Helen Keplinger

The culture of wine has been a part of Helen Keplinger's life for as long as she can remember. Her dad had a wine cellar, which was the source of her childhood wine bottle collection — she also collected rocks, an early indication of her future as a winegrower.

Helen earned a degree in viticulture and enology at the University of California, Davis in 1998. After completing her formal education, she began working with Heidi Barrett, Kathy Joseph, Michel Rolland and David Abreu. She also served as winemaker for Cellars Melis (Priorat), Kenzo Estate, Fort Ross, Sarocka, Scully, Arrow & Branch and Bryant Family Vineyards.

After founding Keplinger Wines in 2004 with her husband, DJ Warner, that became her main focus. Keplinger wines are greatly influenced by Helen and DJ's love of the Mediterranean lifestyle, where they both spent a significant amount of time. They believe that great wine is only possible for great vineyards - they select vineyards, farm grapes and make wine by this mantra.

Featured Winemaker: Jordan Fiorentini

Passionate, dedicated and not afraid to push the envelope, Jordan brings an enthusiastic and experienced spirit to Epoch Estate Wines. Under her direction, Epoch Estate Wines has produced some of the most revered wines in Paso Robles.

Jordan holds an engineering degree from Dartmouth College and a masters degree in viticulture from UC Davis. Jordan started her career working at her family’s winery in Georgia, Araujo Estate in Napa Valley, Antinori Winery in Italy, and as head winemaker at Chalk Hill in Sonoma.

An interesting fact about Jordan is her unique approach to developing her tasting notes. Her descriptors are hand-drawn, visual representations of each vintage, which she refers to as Vinpressions. "Your palate has a beginning, middle and end so I’m trying to draw what I feel.”

Featured Winemaker: Julien Fayard

Julien Fayard is a French winemaker, earning his reputation as a visionary who combines time-honored techniques with a fresh perspective to create wines that resonate with both connoisseurs and wine newcomers.

Born and raised in France, Julien's journey in the world of wine began at an early age. Growing up in the heart of Bordeaux, he was immersed in a culture that revered wine as an integral part of life. This upbringing sparked his curiosity and ignited his passion for winemaking. He pursued his studies at some of the most prestigious institutions, including the University of Bordeaux, where he honed his expertise in viticulture and enology.

Arriving in Napa Valley, Julien was captivated by the region's potential to create world-class wines. His ability to combine his French heritage with the innovation and experimentation inherent in the California wine scene set the stage for his remarkable career.

Julien's winemaking philosophy revolves around crafting wines that are an expression of the vineyard territory. He places a strong emphasis on sustainable and organic practices, recognizing that healthy vines result in exceptional grapes.

Julien officially began is winemaking career producing quality rosé, then went to Bordeaux, where he worked at Lafite Rothschild and Smith Haut Laffite. He later relocated to Napa Valley, where he served as Philippe Melka’s director of winemaking before launching his own projects. Now, with over two decades of winemaking expertise, Julien is one of Napa Valley’s most sought-after consulting winemakers, producing wines with California power and French finesse.

Featured Winemaker: Benoit Touquette

Benoit Touquette is one of the most accomplished winemakers in the industry. Originally from Bordeaux, France, Benoit honed his winemaking skills through his studies in viticulture and enology. After working in wine regions like Australia and California, he began his Napa Valley winemaking career at Screaming Eagle, where he played a pivotal role in developing their iconic wines. 

Benoit began Teeter-Totter in 2011 where he collaborates with other wineries and vineyards including Realm Cellars, Hartwell Vineyards, Kata and Fait-Main, which he co-founded with his wife, Julianne. Fait-Main, meaning "handmade" in French, is a boutique winery dedicated to producing small-lot, handcrafted wines that showcase the unique terroir of Napa Valley. 

Throughout his career, Touquette's winemaking style has been characterized by his meticulous attention to detail, his ability to capture the essence of the vineyard, and his unwavering pursuit of excellence. His wines are known for their elegance, complexity, and balance, reflecting his profound understanding of vineyard management and his intuitive winemaking approach.

Philippe Melka

Philippe and his wife, Cherie, are co-proprietors for Melka Estates. Under Melka Estates are 4 distinct brands: Métisse from Napa Valley, Mekerra from Sonoma Valley, Majestique from sites around the world and CJ, also from Napa Valley.

Philippe learned winemaking and vineyard techniques from prestigious estates like Haut Brion, Chittering Estate, Badio O Coltibuono, the Moueix domains and Dominus. He began his career working at wineries in France (Château Haut-Brion and Château Petrus), Italy (Badia a Coltibuono), Australia (Chittering Estate) and California (Dominus and Ridge) before settling in the Napa Valley in the '90s.

In addition to founding his own winery, Philippe has consulted for notable brands including Fairchild Napa Valley, Cliff Lede, Hundred Acre, Seavy and Sosie. His style is a blend of his French influence with techniques like gentle harvesting, extended skin contact, use of new oak and his ‘American’ insights about artisanal farming as well as winemaking.

Philippe was born and raised in the Bordeaux region and graduated from the University of Bordeaux with a degree in geology in 1989 and then earned a second degree in enology in 1991, specializing in agronomy and vineyard soils.