Accolades 
"...where a cool breeze flows over the vineyard every day allowing the grapes to ripen slowly & evenly."
Winemaker & Misc.
Accolades
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WINEMAKER & MISC.
Appellation America
December, 2007
The folks on Spring Mountain 'have to know what they're doing'
by Alan Goldfarb. In the 13th part of Appellation America's "The Napa Valley Series", Alan Goldfarb investigates what makes the Spring Mountain District AVA unique among the other Napa sub-AVAs. The answers lay in the region's unique geographic based micro-climates as well in its variety of soils.
Click here to download a pdf of the article
Food & Wine Magazine
October 2005, p. 122
American Wine Awards 2005
Winemaker of the Year: Philippe Melka
Food & Wine Magazine-September 2008 issue
30 Years of Wine Trends-Anniversary Special
“A Concise History from the World’s Most Famous Wine Critic”
By Robert Parker
The World’s Most Influential Wine Consultants…“Philippe Melka combines French training and technique with top California fruit to great effect.”Click here to read article
Food & Wine Magazine
April 2001, pg. 116-119
A Star is Born by Tim Fish
Robert Parker - Wine Critic - "Melka is quickly establishing a reputation as one of the finest winemakers in the Napa Valley."
Melka-Made Greats, sidebar to A Star is Born
Click here to read article | Click here to read sidebar
Intermezzo Magazine
March/April 2004
A Vintner’s Dinner
Interview with Michael Marston & Philippe Melka, Winemaker
Click here to read pdf of article
LA Times
Where have all the honest Cabs gone?
The bad press on overblown California Cabernets has intensified lately, but if you know where to look, you can still find great wines hiding in plain sight.
By Patrick Comiskey
Special to The Times
January 3, 2007
The complete article can be viewed here.
Los Angeles Times
June 21, 2006
By Patrick Comiskey
Special to The Times
Napa’s go-to virtuoso
Winemaker Philippe Melka brings a meticulously gentle touch to some of the showiest cult Cabs.
By the time Philippe Melka walks through the doors at 9:15 a.m. at Vineyard 29, he's already received about 20 phone calls and answered 10. He used to not answer his phone, hoping to return calls when he had a free moment, but lately those moments aren't easy to come by. The complete article can be viewed here.
The Press Democrat
January 25, 2006
Wine Country's Best Find Happy Home in SF
Click here to see pdf of article
San Francisco Chronicle
December 2003
Winemakers to Watch
“His specialty is red, Bordeaux style wines that accomplish the rare trick of being both big and subtle.”
The Santé Gold Star Award
This award recognizes wine, spirits and food of exceptional merit as chosen by restaurant professional reviewers.
Spring Mountain District – Above the Napa Valley
Fall 2008
Click here to view pdf of newsletter.
Wine Business
November 6, 2007
Spring Mountain AVA Keeps Marketing Focus Close to Home
Click here to download a pdf of the article.
Click here to link to article.
Wine Spectator
July 31, 2003, p. 62
California’s New Faces: Pushing the Frontiers of Wine
Philippe Melka: Stepping from Turley’s shadow
Wine Spectator
April 30, 2000, pg. 72
Worth the Search
by James Laube
Click here to read article.
International Wine Cellar Stephen Tanzer
May/June 2006 & 2007
Good full medium ruby. Aromas of blackberry, cassis, licorice, violet and menthol, along with a distinctly rocky mountain wine quality. Fat and lush on entry with briary berry and licorice flavors. Finishes with sightly rustic tannins and long. Half of this wine was fermented in 400-liter barrels and then aged for 22 months.
