gmhTODAY 24 gmhTODAY Feb March 2019 | Page 37

“Looking back at what I accomplished and the wine industry recognition I earned in 2018 blew me away. I’m eager to see what’s in store for 2019. The Santa Clara Valley wine region is gaining in popularity. People are intrigued and they’re traveling here from all over, seeking new wine tasting experiences. It’s an exciting time for us.” Janu Goelz Winemaker and Founder Alara Cellars Janu Goelz is rapidly making her mark as an award- winning winemaker and founder of Alara Cellars. As a young woman she left San Jose to pursue a degree in International Business with a Minor in Japanese at the University of San Francisco. She travelled to India to star in two commercial fi lms. Back in San Francisco, she worked as a high tech recruiter and then launched a clothing line with a friend: They transformed Indian saris into colorful cocktail dresses and called the line Ri Couture. She parlayed an internship at KRON4 TV into a fi ve-year stint as Weather Anchor. In 2012, Janu met Jason Goelz, a vintner and owner of Jason-Stephens Winery. She quickly developed a passion for the wine business and began helping with wine sales and the wine club, then assisting Jason with winemaking. In 2015, Jason made her Assistant Winemaker. Over the next few years, she made wine under her own Alara Cellars label. In 2018, she entered her Grenache Blanc and won Best of Show at the Central Coast Wine Competition, placing fi rst out of over 700 wines. Two of her wines were also featured in Wine Enthusiast magazine’s Best of 2018 Issue, and seven have been rated 90 and above by the magazine. Janu has earned the distinction of Sommelier, CSW, CS, WSET3 and graduate of the Wine Executive program at UC Davis. Along with winemaking she is excited about plans for expansion of Alara Cellars’ base of operations at the Stomping Ground in Gilroy. She and Jason live on their Gilroy vineyard property with their beloved dogs, Rigley and Baxter, two Labs with opposite personalities. 37