SPOTLIGHT ON MAAYAN KOSCHITSKY, LA PELLE WINES

This month, we're sitting down with Maayan Koschitzky, a world-class winemaker whose reputation continues to rise across Napa Valley and beyond.

With a foundation in engineering and a relentless drive for excellence, Maayan brings a meticulous, hands-on approach to every project he touches. His winemaking career took off at the highest levels—including time on the elite team at Screaming Eagle—and since then, his name has become synonymous with site-driven, small-lot wines that speak to place and purpose.

Today, Maayan serves as the Director of Winemaking at La Pelle, a winery he co-founded with a grower-first philosophy and a focus on crafting expressive, vineyard-specific wines. He also lends his expertise to a select group of boutique labels, including The Vineyard House, Brilliant Mistake Wines and Ride Wines.

La Pelle Wines

La Pelle—French for “the shovel”—is more than just a name. It represents the start of every vineyard story, the first tool in the ground, and the hands-on commitment it takes to craft truly expressive wines from the soil up.

Founded in 2016, La Pelle Wines was created by winemaker Maayan Koschitzky, viticulturist Miguel Luna, and business partner Andy Beckstoffer III. Together, they’ve built a winery that blends deep vineyard knowledge, precision winemaking, and a shared belief that great wines are grown, not made.

What sets La Pelle apart is its vineyard-first approach. With direct access to some of Napa Valley’s most respected sites—thanks to Miguel Luna’s extensive relationships as a top viticulturist—the team has the rare ability to manage the farming from budbreak to harvest. This level of control allows Maayan to craft wines that are pure, balanced, and true to their origins.