About Us
Shalini Sekhar
Winemaker/Proprietor
A former musician, Shalini turned from her Master’s Degree in Flute and Piccolo Performance to a career in wine. After completing her studies at Fresno State University in Enology and Viticulture, she began her journey into winemaking marrying the same combination of art and science that fueled her passion in music.
Her experience with boutique producers and Pinot Noir dates back to her time at Williams Selyem. What followed was a series of steps in to the custom crush world where she began working with small clients to execute their visions for their boutique brands beginning with Copain Custom Crush (now Punchdown Cellars), then Bluxome Street Winery, and finally ROAR wines, where she made wine for Waits-Mast Family Cellars, Furthermore Pinot Noir, Neely Wine and several smaller brands.
Shalini was included in the San Francisco Chronicle’s 2019 Winemakers to Watch. In 2015 she was awarded Winemaker of the Year at the San Francisco International Wine Competition for her work with Furthermore Pinot Noir. In 2020 Shalini launched her own small brand under the Ottavino label, exploring Grüner Veltliner and less planted varietals in California. She continues to be the winemaker for Waits-Mast & Xander Soren Wines, as well as Consulting Winemaker at Neely.When Shalini is not at a winery or in the vineyards, she is busy studying for her WSET Diploma, playing her piccolo, and chasing after her two small children.
Emiddio Justin Massa
Associate Winemaker
Justin’s journey in winemaking began with a passion for science. A graduate of Syracuse University with a B.S. in Biology and Minor in Forensic Science, Justin was fascinated by the science involved in the winemaking process and the artistry that shepherds the grapes to glass. This eventually led to a move to California for his first harvest at ROAR where his love affair with Central Coast Pinot Noir began.
That first harvest over a decade ago, is also where he met Shalini (who was in fact the one who interviewed and hired him!). Justin continued on with ROAR as their Assistant Winemaker and later moved to Mansfield-Dunne wines as their Assistant Winemaker and Custom Crush Winemaker. In this role, Justin has served as winemaker with Lester Estate Wines, Theopolis Vineyards, Origin, Ryan Cochrane Wines, and several private label projects. He is excited to be continuing on this journey with Shalini and is looking forward to a new chapter producing wines in Sonoma County.
When Justin isn’t at the winery or on the road to a vineyard he can be found tinkering with gluten-free recipes in his kitchen, exploring the Bay Area with his husband, and obsessing over the newest pop music with his cats.
Client Wines
In addition to crafting her own wines, Shalini is currently the Winemaker for Waits-Mast Family Cellars and Xander Soren Wines as well as Consulting Winemaker for Neely Wine focusing on crafting cool climate Pinot Noir & Chardonnay. To learn more about or to purchase the wines she crafts with her clients, please visit their websites.
