If not for God and grapes, sun and terroir, we would not be where we are today.
Meredith and I met over a glass of wine. She was attending a tasting I was hosting at a Napa Valley winery. What began as a conversation over Cabernet quickly became something more. Within days, we were speaking not only about a life together, but about building something meaningful in Napa Valley.
Our journey begins with faith. We believe the path that led us to wine, to Napa Valley, and to each other was guided with purpose.
In 2016, we founded Flint Knoll with that conviction.
From the beginning, we set out to craft elegant, timeless, terroir-driven wines that reflect the soul and structure of Napa Valley’s mountain vineyards. Shaped by Midwestern values, we believe in humility, discipline, and restraint as a measure of confidence.
Every bottle reflects intention, patience, and an uncompromising commitment to quality. What began as a dream has become a responsibility we carry with purpose, vintage after vintage.
Our philosophy is grounded in tradition. While Napa has evolved dramatically over the past century, we feel a kinship with its early vintners — hands-on, meticulous, personally invested. We remain intentionally small and deeply focused.
To bring our vision to life, we are honored to work alongside Philippe Melka and Maayan Koschitzky. Philippe’s more than three decades of experience in Bordeaux and Napa bring depth and artistry to our wines. Maayan is widely respected for his precision and disciplined approach, bringing structural clarity and meticulous attention to detail in both vineyard and cellar. Together, they craft wines that are powerful yet refined, expressive yet controlled.
Through longstanding relationships, we source fruit from prized mountain vineyards on Spring Mountain, Diamond Mountain, Howell Mountain, and Pritchard Hill. Our focus is singular: mountain-grown Bordeaux varietals that express site, structure, and restraint. Thoughtful cellar work and measured use of French oak allow the vineyard to speak first.
Flint Knoll is named for the Flint Hills of Kansas, where our roots run deep. The values that shaped us continue to guide us: faith in Jesus Christ, hard work poured into every vintage and every decision, and gratitude for the relationships that make this possible.
We created Flint Knoll for those who seek exceptional Napa Valley wines without excess or pretense, and who value integrity, discipline, and a genuine connection to the people behind the bottle.
Thank you for your interest in Flint Knoll. We are honored to share our passion with you.
~ Aaron Michaelis
1 Chronicles 29:11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all
“My journey into the wine business is far from typical, if there even is such a thing. It was either destiny, a series of twists and turns, or perhaps a bit of both that brought me to Napa Valley.
I’m a dyed-in-the-wool Midwesterner, born and raised in Kansas, now living the American dream as a vintner in Napa. How did I get here?
It all started when the wine bug bit me in college.
Back then, I was working at a respected tobacconist in my hometown of Wichita. Next door was a wine shop with an incredible selection from all over the world. During breaks, I’d wander in, ask countless questions about varietals, regions, and producers, and to their credit, the owners shared their knowledge freely.
That curiosity quickly turned into a full-blown obsession. In my early 20s, I founded a tasting group called The Young Vines, dedicated to building community among budding oenophiles. A few years later, I moved to Kansas City to chase the best wine opportunities the Midwest had to offer. I worked as a distributor and co-owned two successful restaurants, both ventures that taught me invaluable lessons about hospitality, wine, and the importance of hard work.
But the vinous siren call of Napa proved irresistible.
In 2013, I moved to the valley and immersed myself in sales, marketing, and product development for respected vineyards and boutique producers. That’s when my understanding of wine grew exponentially. Eventually, I launched a consulting business, but over time, it became clear that while I was pouring passion into other people’s projects, my dream was still waiting.
Then I met Meredith.
Everything clicked. With her love, support, and prayers fueling me, I poured everything I had into creating something of our own. In 2016, nearly 23 years after I first walked into that Wichita wine shop, we harvested the first vintage of Flint Knoll.
Flint Knoll is the realization of my relentless pursuit of excellence. Every vintage is handcrafted with precision, care, and a profound respect for the gifts nature provides. I strive to make each year better than the last—no easy feat when the hand of God ultimately decides what each harvest brings.
To this day, it’s an honor to do what I love, and to share wines with people who appreciate artisanal, vintner-driven Napa Valley expressions as much as we do.”
~Aaron Michaelis
“You could say I inherited my passion for wine.
My father had an exceptional palate and helped shape my appreciation for fine wine from an early age. One of the first, and most memorable, experiences was sharing a Château Lafite Rothschild with him. That moment was nothing short of sensorial. I remember thinking: Why can’t all wine be this extraordinary?
That’s how I’m wired. After a profound experience, my mind goes straight to the science behind it.
With a Master’s degree in Molecular Biology, I spent much of my professional career in the pharmaceutical industry. Growing up in Illinois, I was never a fan of the long, harsh winters, so when the chance to relocate to California came in 2010, I jumped at it.
It was a wine tasting in Napa with friends that changed everything. Aaron was hosting, and I was captivated by his knowledge and passion. Almost instantly, my life took a new and unexpected turn.
Before long, Aaron and I were dreaming of launching a wine brand together. He leaped to start Flint Knoll, and I supported him from the sidelines while continuing my corporate career. Eventually, I couldn’t resist the pull any longer. I left the pharmaceutical world to join him full-time, and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
At Flint Knoll, I wear a lot of hats, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love showing up for early morning harvest picks just as much as I love helping blend each vintage. I manage many day-to-day responsibilities related to running our business and delivering a personalized experience to our customers.
One of the greatest joys of my role is traveling across the country with Aaron to share our wines with people who appreciate the care and craftsmanship that go into each bottle. That personal connection, that moment of shared appreciation, is what fuels me every single day.
I feel so blessed to do what I love, with the person I love, in a place we both cherish.”
~Meredith Michaelis
Like the celebrated wines he’s helped create, Philippe Melka’s career has always been shaped by the soil.
A native of Bordeaux, Melka developed a fascination with the land at an early age. He earned a degree in Geology at the University of Bordeaux, followed by a Master’s in Agronomy and Enology—laying the foundation for a career defined by both scientific precision and artistic instinct.
Melka’s first post-graduate role was at the legendary Château Haut-Brion. From there, he joined the esteemed Moueix Company, which sent him to Napa Valley in 1991 to study soils at Dominus Estate in Yountville. What he discovered in Napa’s terroir proved transformative, setting the course for the rest of his career.
In the years that followed, Melka honed his craft at iconic wineries around the world: Badio O Coltibuono in Chianti, Chittering Estate in Australia, and the famed Château Pétrus in Pomerol. Along the way, he was mentored by some of the wine world’s most respected figures, including Jean Delmas and Jean Philippe Masclef of Haut-Brion; Christian Moueix and Jean-Claude Berrouet of Pétrus; Paul Draper of Ridge Vineyards; Daniel Baron of Silver Oak; and the renowned consultant Michel Rolland, with whom he continues to collaborate.
In 1994, Melka returned to Napa Valley full-time, where he’s since built a reputation as one of the most respected consulting winemakers in the world. His deep understanding of soil and site, paired with an intuitive, hands-on approach, has made him the guiding force behind many of Napa’s most acclaimed wines.
At Flint Knoll, Melka brings over three decades of winemaking excellence, a global perspective, and an uncompromising commitment to terroir-driven expression.
Maayan Koschitzky brings a truly global perspective and a wealth of technical expertise to the Flint Knoll team, with a winemaking journey that spans from the vineyards of Israel to some of Napa Valley’s most prestigious estates, including Screaming Eagle and Dalla Valle.
Since joining Atelier Melka in 2014, Maayan has become an integral part of the Melka team, collaborating on some of the most acclaimed wines in the valley. His diverse background in engineering, combined with years of hands-on experience in both vineyard management and cellar work, gives him a uniquely multifaceted skill set.
At Flint Knoll, Maayan plays a vital role in both winemaking and operations. His thoughtful approach, precise execution, and deep understanding of terroir help ensure that each vintage reflects the elegance, complexity, and character that define the Flint Knoll style.
