Richard Salvestrin

Winemaker, Salvestrin, The Crane Assembly

A third-generation grapegrower, Rich learned the art of farming on the family ranch from his father and grandfather. He completed his degree in viticulture from Fresno State University in 1987 and has diverse experience in the wine industry over a 35 year career. While in college he interned at Louis Martini Winery and then held positions at Mumm Napa Valley, S. Anderson Winery and was vineyard Supervisor at Jaeger Vineyards for eight years. Rich finished his outside employment career as VP/COO of California Grapevine Nursery, a position he held for nine years until 2006.

During that time he continued to help farm the family vineyards and expanded the family's grape growing business to include winemaking. Rich and his wife Shannon established Salvestrin Wine Co in 1994 and constructed the family estate winery in 2001.
Since 2006 Rich has been focused on the family vineyard and winery's growth and success.

Country born: United States

Education: Fresno State University - 1987 (Major - Viticulture)

Years in the wine industry: 30+ years

Honors / Awards:
Napa County Farm Bureau Outstanding Agriculturist of the Year - 2014

Winemaking Philosophy:
Rich believes in making wines that are true to their origin and reflect the passion, effort and lifestyle he grew up with on the family ranch. "Wines that are enjoyable expressions of what we do on a daily basis". It's all about balance: balance in our lives, in the land and in our wines. He strives to make wines that can be enjoyed on their own and pair well with food.

Philipe Melka

Winemaker, Salvestrin, The Crane Assembly

I spent much of my youth in Bordeaux, France, earning my geology degree from the University of Bordeaux. On a whim, I took a wine course in my final year of study - a decision that changed my life.
My journey started at Chateau Haut Brion (where my passion for cabernet-based blends and sauvignon blanc began) and I completed a masters program in Agronomy and Enology under the direction of Professor Sequin, the renowned terroir specialist. I was fascinated by the relationship between soil and wine quality, a fascination which continues today.
Yearning to know more, I set out for Napa Valley (Dominus Estate), Western Australia (Chittering Estate), Chianti in Italy (Badia O Coltibuono) and Bordeaux (Chateau Petrus) where I divided my time between soil study and winemaking. However, the great diversity of terroirs I found in Napa Valley, and its potential for extraordinary wines, was a revelation to me. So, with the knowledge I've gained around the world, I've devoted the past 15 years to winemaking here in Napa Valley, both as a consultant to the most highly regarded estate wineries, and as co-proprietor of Melka Estates with my wife, Cherie.
We've also found time to raise a beautiful family together. I feel fortunate to have been trained and influenced by some of the most notable personalities in the wine business: 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 Michel Rolland from Chateau Pasteur.

Country born: France

Years in the wine industry: 20-30 years

Maayan Koschitzky

Winemaker, Salvestrin, The Crane Assembly

Maayan Koschitzky is an acclaimed winemaker known for his work with some of Napa Valley’s top wineries, including his role as Director of Winemaking for Atelier Melka, the winemaking consulting business founded by renowned winemaker Philippe Melka. Born and raised in Israel, Koschitzky began his winemaking journey in Israel’s Golan Heights before moving to California to advance his career.
His work is particularly recognized for its meticulous approach, blending traditional winemaking techniques with a deep understanding of vineyard management and a commitment to innovation. At Atelier Melka, Koschitzky works on multiple high-profile wine projects, applying a hands-on philosophy that spans from vineyard management to final production, with a focus on producing luxury wines that capture the unique terroir of each vineyard.
Maayan is known for his ability to elevate wine quality through both technical skill and a deep respect for the land, contributing to Napa’s reputation for producing world-class wines.

Country born: Israel

Years in the wine industry: 20-30 years