Statesmen of historical renown, a historical property, two philanthropists, a renowned contemporary artist and two modern winemaking legends …
Amlés owners, wine lovers, and students of history Scott Miller and Sharon Virts have assembled a world-class group of artisans and craftsmen to add their imagination, innovation, and experience to the wines.
With a vision for what will be regarded for years to come as a classical culmination of the best of what both history and art have to offer, every bottle of Amlés Wines was created to cherish and to celebrate the best moments of life’s journey.
There comes a time in everyone’s life, that if you’ve been fortunate enough to be successful in your chosen profession, you ought to take a leap of faith, trust your imagination, and get excited by the possibilities of trying something completely new. Where and when were you the happiest? What moves you? What makes your soul sing? Or, conversely, makes you remember moments of pure and reflective contentment?
For Scott Miller, who had made his living in the competitive world of technology, the freedom to experiment and try something truly new was like being double-dog-dared. He found himself on an unexpected adventure ushered in by a restoration project that turned out to be the latest chapter in an already accomplished life.
The restoration of Selma mansion, a brick-by-brick endeavor, became a project whose crowning achievement would be measured in much more than square footage. This 19th century landmark became a hub for his philanthropic endeavors. The home became a symbol of what was possible and was the place that inspired him to create a wine that both reflected the storied history of winemaking and captured all possible potential in the present opportunity in some of the finest vineyards the new world has to offer.
Scott Miller
The right blend captured in a bottle can unleash poetry and prose, framing the moment and rooting it in truth. In vino veritas. Philippe Melka understands this and is a truth seeker. He knows that the relationship between good soil and the vines it produces speaks for itself. Good fruit will produce good wine. And good wine tells a good story. With the extra push of talent, good becomes spectacular.
Melka has had the good fortune of being able to hone his craft while working on some of the most distinctive and cherished soils on the planet, among the vines in Italy, Western Australia, and the Napa Valley. He learned from the best of the best, working at Château Cheval Blanc, Petrus, and Château Haut-Brion, where his passion for Cabernet-based blends was born and nurtured. The delicate balance between tradition and innovation keeps a good winemaker’s palate fresh, and Amlés is where Philippe’s extraordinary talent was given free reign.
Philippe’s winemaking partner Maayan Koschitzky is a like-minded, world-traveled and educated artisan who is a rising star among the most formidable names in Napa. Together they create wines that are close to the land that nurtures these precious vines, and that are defined by their ability to create a sense of place from the moment they are uncorked.
Philippe Melka
Philippe and Maayan know that only the most exceptional fruit will bear the most exquisite wine. Here, as in all other aspects of winemaking, they are uncompromising in their search for excellence. The best wine is born out of a process that begins and ends with deep and healthy roots. Though formally educated in engineering, Maayan’s background in farming has served him well: his technical mind supports the innate talent involved in crafting a wine that reflects the rich story of a particular place and time.
Philippe’s and Maayan’s involvement in the creation of Amlés Wines is a natural synergy with Scott’s love of culture, history, and preservation. Their collaboration is a synergy of purpose. Château Haut-Brion looms large in the back of their minds: favored by Thomas Jefferson, launching pad for Philippe as a young winemaker, and the wine that awoke a life-long passion for enjoying and collecting wine in Scott, it is also one of the most lauded wines—and places—in the cultural cellar of history.
Maayan Koschitzky
The ultimate vision of what the wine would represent as an extraordinary sensory experience could not be complete without a similarly meaningful and evocative presentation. Reflectionist artist JD Miller’s style of painting is rooted in the law of attraction, or the belief that by focusing on positive experiences, you bring positive experiences into your life in turn.
JD’s canvases above all else are representations of powerful energy. The artist’s process of layering paint and textures, infusing old tradition with new modern styling, blending carefully and mindfully, is a visual representation of everything Scott, Philippe, and Maayan want the grapes to say each time a glass is poured.
Each bottle is uniquely beautiful, a piece of art unto itself. All involved believe that sharing something beautiful can create community, inspire storytelling, and bring unexpected people to the table to share ideas that could, in turn, fuel the fire to be and do better for others. As a result, profits from sales of Amlés Wines will directly benefit various organizations and charities in and around Virginia and California.
