Philippe Melka, Winemaker
On a whim, Philippe took a wine course in his final year of study at the University of Bordeaux while completing a geology degree – a moment that changed the trajectory of his life. He began his journey at Château Haut Brion where his passion for Cabernet-based blends and Sauvignon Blanc began and completed a Masters program in Agronomy and Enology. He was intrigued by the relationship between soil and wine quality, a fascination which continues today.
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Yearning to learn more, he set out for Napa Valley (Dominus Estate), Western Australia (Chittering Estate), Chianti in Italy (Badia a Coltibuono) and Bordeaux (Château Pétrus) where he divided his time between soil study and winemaking. From the great diversity of terroirs he studied, Napa Valley revealed itself to have the most exciting potential for extraordinary wine.
Trained and influenced by some of the most notable personalities in the wine business, Philippe has devoted the past 25 years to winemaking in Napa Valley, Sonoma, Santa Barbara, Washington state and a few countries overseas. Being named one of the top nine wine consultants in the world by Robert Parker underscores his truly remarkable gift in a career which has only just begun.
Since joining Quixote Winery in 2018, Philippe has brought his passion and precision to every bottle we produce — especially our Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, and Malbec grown on our 42-acre estate in the Stags Leap District.
Ryan Shenk, Estate Manager
Email: ryan@quixotewinery.com
Born and raised in Napa, Ryan grew up in the heralded Napa Valley wine country. After growing up amongst the vineyards, he moved to San Luis Obispo to attend Cal Poly. It was there that he developed a true love for wine and food while managing restaurants and he would stay on the Central Coast for 8 years pursuing that passion.
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After returning to the Napa Valley in 2003, he spent another 3 years managing restaurants, including at The Martini House and the restaurant at the Napa Valley Marriott, before making the jump into the wine industry. For the past 20 years, Ryan has worked at a select number of notable family wineries before joining the Quixote team in 2021.
Food and wine aren’t limited to his professional life as he fills his time enjoying the world class wines, food and entertainment that Napa Valley has to offer with his wife Brooke. Having a passion for traveling, he also enjoys visiting exotic locations and wine regions around the world.
Robby Temple, Assistant Winemaker
Email: temple@quixotewinery.com
Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Robby started his wine career in the Willamette Valley (OR). After two years of going back and forth from hospitality to production in the cellar, he left Oregon for a harvest internship in Chile.
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In 2017, he moved back to the United States, this time to Sonoma County, to do a harvest. Robby joined the Quixote Team in 2018 and is proud to say that the 2025 harvest will be his 8th vintage here.
Patty Marshall, Estate Host
Email: patty@quixotewinery.com
Patty was born in Seattle, Washington and moved to California with her family at a young age. She worked in “corporate America” for 30+ years, but when her team moved to Houston, she decided to pursue other interests which lead her to Napa.
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Patty has a love of wine and good conversation…the perfect pairing for an estate host. She joined the Quixote team in 2018 and, as she frequently points out to her guests, she loves taking her “work” home at the end of the day … left over wine beats a brief case any day!
Ashleen Blaettler, Estate Ambassador
Email: ashleen@quixotewinery.com
Ashleen brings a globe-trotter’s curiosity and an artist’s eye to every experience she shapes. A Bay Area native with an Art degree and a passport that looks permanently ink-stained, she’s spent years exploring how different cultures express creativity – including a formative year teaching in South Korea.
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Before finding her way to our colorful corner of Stags Leap in October 2025, Ashleen navigated the inventive swirl of hardware tech startups, honing her knack for crafting moments that feel both thoughtful and delightfully unexpected. Drawn to the blend of art, science, and playful imagination in winemaking, she quickly connected with the spirited, offbeat soul of our estate.
You’ll often find her welcoming guests, sharing the stories behind our architecture and wines, and creating experiences that feel uniquely Quixote. And when inspiration strikes, she loves lending a hand in the cellar – always curious, always eager to dive deeper.
When she’s not hosting tastings, Ashleen is tending her garden or planning her next adventure abroad, usually with a glass of something delicious in hand.
Horacio Sanchez, Landscape Manager
Horacio is the longest tenured employee here at Quixote Winery, having joined the team in 2008. In addition to meticulously taking care of all the landscaping on the property, he is an integral part of the production team during harvest. A man of many skills, he is the man we go to when we need something installed, fixed, or built.
