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Stephanie Putnam

Winemaker, Raymond Vineyards

Stephanie Putnam is the director of winemaking at Raymond Vineyards, where she oversees all aspects of winemaking for this iconic Napa Valley winery. Before joining the Boisset Collection team, Stephanie spent eight years as winemaker at Far Niente Winery, where she contemporized their house style. Prior to that, she was part of the team at The Hess Collection Winery, where she began as a cellar worker and rapidly progressed to winemaker. Throughout her 15+ years of experience as a winemaker, over 30 of her wines have received 90+ scores from Robert Parker.

Country born: United States

Education: BS Fermentation Science, UC Davis

Years in the wine industry: 15-20 years

Honors / Awards:
Wine Spectator's Top 100 List; Wine Enthusiast's Top 100 List; The Wine News Cabernet of the Year

Winemaking Philosophy:
To craft big, bold, balanced wines that best reflect the distinct terroirs of Napa Valley.

Philippe Melka

Winemaker, Raymond Vineyards

A native of Bordeaux, Philippe Melka acted on his childhood interests and earned a degree in Geology at the University of Bordeaux. A class in winemaking in his final year was a turning point, propelling him to earn 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 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 has been fortunate to have 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, he returned to Napa full time, and for the past 20 years, Melka has served as winemaking consultant for some of Napa’s most highly regarded properties under his company Atelier Melka, founded in 1995.

Country born: France

Years in the wine industry: 20-30 years

Jean-Charles Boisset

Winemaker, Raymond Vineyards

Jean-Charles Boisset serves as president of Boisset Family Estates, one of the world’s leading family-owned wine companies, with wineries in Burgundy, Beaujolais, the Rhone Valley, the South of France, and expertise in French sparkling wines. Boisset’s August 2009 purchase of Raymond Vineyards expanded the company’s footprint in the New World, which already included properties in Canada and California’s Russian River Valley, making it one of the top 25 producers in the US.

Jean-Charles has been vital to the family firm’s expansion through organic growth and by building a collection of wineries that fit the family’s vision and share its values. He instituted the concept of the “viniculteur,” which redefined the company’s traditional role to encompass a closer, more active interest in all aspects of winegrowing to ensure sustainable farming practices and premium quality.

Integral to Jean-Charles’ long-term vision has always been a dedication to innovation and the environment, which is reflected in the organic and Biodynamic farming techniques that have been implemented at Boisset’s wineries, as well as alternative packaging to reduce environmental impact.

Country born: France

Years in the wine industry: 20-30 years