The Troupe
Flora Chang - Vintner
Flora’s journey into wine was a pilgrimage from science to soil, metropolis to mountaintop, and hospitals to hospitality. Flora got her start in the wine world building and running her family-owned Nine Suns Winery and Houyi Vineyard before they were acquired by Realm Cellars. In that role, all elements of crafting and sharing wine fell under her purview – encompassing everything from winemaking to operations and hospitality. Over the ensuing years, a bewildering, great passion for wine took root – an enthusiasm for how human choice aims to guide an impossibly complicated array of mother nature’s features.
Born in New York, Flora never imagined she’d find her way to Napa. Yet, every experience laid the foundation — or plinth — for her oenological journey. In her first career as a pharmacist, she accrued a knowledge of chemistry that informed the scientific basis of her work with wine. Later, her MBA studies underpinned the strategic elements of managing and growing a business. Along the way, a deep love of writing and storytelling animated her work in building wine brands through narratives that elevate wine from a mere beverage to one of life’s ultimate delights.
Philippe Melka - Winemaker
Though today his name is synonymous with the finest pursuit of winemaking, Philippe’s childhood captivation with the land was where his journey began. In fact, he was so enthralled with the earth and all that it bore, that he studied geology at the University of Bordeaux—only taking a single winemaking course towards the end of his degree.
His knowledge of soil, alongside his burgeoning love of winemaking, ushered him to start his career at Château Haut Brion—later expanding to esteemed international estates. Over the ensuing years, Philippe integrated science, traditional French techniques, and his well-traveled understanding of varying terroirs to become an unmatched master of his craft.
For more than a decade Philippe has dirtied his boots with the Houyi Vineyard soils atop Pritchard Hill—resulting in deep-seated roots with both the land and Flora and Jason. The team initially began working together when Philippe came on as consulting winemaker for the Nine Suns wine brand. Now, he sets the winemaking direction for Plinth—furthering the shared vision to unveil the nuance of vine, vessel, and vintage through unabashedly striking wines.
Maayan Koschitzky - Winemaker
While Maayan’s stateside wine career first took flight at Screaming Eagle, he got his aerial start as a paratrooper in his native Israel. Although an obvious lover of the skies, it was his earthly pursuits that led him to winemaking in the land of milk and honey for over five years before settling in the United States.
Among coveted terroirs and alongside acclaimed winemakers, he honed his craft with a particular focus on how decision-making for the vine is reflected in the wine.
In 2014, Philippe recruited Maayan to join his team—and with his myriad talents ranging from engineering to viticulture—he was sky-bound yet again, ascending to the role of Director of Winemaking for Atelier Melka. With a black belt in Judo, Maayan brings a kick-ass sensibility to Plinth—driving the vision of story-worthy wines that leave a lingering impression through both their taste and unique journeys from soil to glass.
Patricio Paso Viola - Winemaker
Born in Mendoza, Argentina, known as la tierra del sol y el buen vino, or the land of sun and good wine, it’s no surprise Patricio’s infatuation with wine runs deep. Even so, he originally laced his boots with destinations other than vineyards and cellars in mind, choosing to study industrial engineering. Then, a visit to a local winery changed everything – captivated with the idea that winemakers were both architects and artists, engineers and enthusiasts, and most importantly, soil-inspired storytellers, he immediately recognized his calling.
After working in his native land crafting mesmerizing Malbecs, Patricio’s quest for adventure and a deep interest in furthering his expertise with varietal driven wines had him sojourning to Château Angelus in Bordeaux and celebrated producers in Australia, Chile and Napa, immersing himself in a borderless narrative of the toils and tales of wine.
Like the wayfarer, he lands content amongst the vineyard soils of Pritchard Hill where he views each vintage of Plinth as a chapter in a story co-authored by winemaker and Mother Nature.
Jason Chang - Tastemaker in Residence
When you meet Jason, you quickly realize that the title perfectly suits the man. Jason—much like his wife, Flora—found his way to wine through a series of professional ventures that, unbeknownst to him at the time, would prepare him for a life in wine.
Although born in Minnesota, most of Jason’s childhood and young adulthood were spent in the San Francisco Bay area until his move to New York City to study neuroscience. After spending time studying memory formation, he swapped a would-be medical career for a business school education that led to roles in management consulting alongside large corporations and even the Federal Treasury for some time. Throughout the journey, Jason refined an equal part strategy and passion approach that would prove indispensable for a move to California to establish and run Houyi Vineyard and Nine Suns Winery. After both brands were acquired by Realm Cellars in 2022, Jason’s attention shifted to bringing the Plinth vision to life. Today, while no longer involved in the day-to-day operations of the wine business, Jason’s passion and influence continue to be enjoyed by all with whom he shares Plinth wines.