Ottavino Wines is a boutique winery focused on producing wines from less common varieties and winemaking choices with minimal-intervention. Owner/Winemaker Shalini Sekhar is one of the first Indian-American winemakers and utilizes her background as a classical musician to marry art and science in her wines. Wines include Grüner Veltliner, St. Laurent, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
“A classically trained musician turned winemaker, Shalini Sekhar brings harmony and grace to Anderson Valley with her debut Ferrington Vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.”
Raised in New Jersey, winemaker and proprietor of Ottavino Wines, Shalini Sekhar trained as a classical flutist, eventually earning a Master’s degree in Flute and Piccolo Performance. A tasting room job in California redirected her path—and a genuine curiosity about grapes and fermentation took over.
A deliberate pivot into wine
After moving to California in 2005, she managed a tasting room, then pursued Enology & Viticulture at California State University, Fresno. She gained experience at renowned programs and custom-crush operations—including stints at William Selyem—building a deep foundation in cool-climate Pinot Noir.
Small-lot specialist & boutique sensibility
Shalini founded her own label Ottavino Wines in 2020, focusing on less-common varietals (such as Grüner Veltliner) and artisanal production. Meanwhile she has served as consulting or lead winemaker for small brands like Waits-Mast Family Cellars, championing cool-climate fruit from regions including California’s North Coast.
