Janu Arasu is a Bay Area Native that grew up in Morgan Hill. She moved to SF for college and stayed there for 13 years. In those 13 years she went to USF, traveled to India to play the leading role in 2 commercial films, worked the corporate world a few years and after all of that started a clothing line. She partnered with a fashion designer friend to create a line that was a vision/fantasy of Janu’s since young. Ri Couture took recycled Indian Saaris and turned them into whimsical colorful cocktail dresses. An artist neighbor at their studio invited her for an interview at the local news station where she soon after became a Weather Anchor. During that time her focus shifted to her Weather position from her clothing line. Fashion has always been a passion for Janu which has resurfaced through Alara Cellars.

Janu met ex-husband, Jason Goelz, local vintner and winery owner, in the Summer of 2012. Her love for wine transitioned and developed from an enthusiast to a wine professional. She learned about wine sales and tasted her way through several trade shows. She has since completed various wine educational programs including: CSW, CS, WSET3 and the Wine Executive program from UC Davis. Her hands-on work at Jason-Stephens Winery has helped her grow into anthe winemaker she has become today.

Behind the label’s fashion is designer Malene Grotrian. Read her story.