Megan Sekermestrovich, Lula
Richmond, California
To me, wine is… generosity! Sharing wine is my favorite way to make a connection, with someone new, and with the people I love. Turning my friends on to natural wine definitely sparks joy. Most of my favorite wines, both funky and elegant, are made with no interference. While I'm still learning the ropes, I'm encouraged by this philosophy and practice of patience. Without intervention, naturally, is really the ultimate experiment. It's a huge risk to work this way however, so for my first vintage I've started quite small.
I've seen a lot more consumer value being placed on agriculture, especially through the lens of wine in recent years. Grapes aren't rinsed prior to pressing, which makes what happens on the vineyard so valuable to the end product. I was able to volunteer on a biodynamic vineyard last summer and want to pour a lot more time into working on vineyards in the future. Of course my hope is for farms to turn over to organic-practicing, however, I know this shift involves a much larger investment in time and hands-on labor. Improving practices that are both financially and environmentally sustainable require long term vision and dedication. I believe this industry's momentum will continue to move us in that direction.
I see natural wine as a gateway to inclusivity. Between its popularity among a younger demographic (wine bars+djs), female-focused conferences, and health-conscious biodynamic loyalists, it's a unique space open for interpretation and iteration. Working in a natural wine shop, I'm able to share the ethos behind natural wine firsthand and familiarize customers with this world every day. Collectively, we're reshaping this industry through conferences, consumer education, and wine fairs who seek out full-spectrum representation (like this one!).
Curiosity is the driving force behind all of my endeavors—winemaking being the most full-on undertaking yet, and completely career-altering in my case (as I've worked in fashion up until four months ago). I've been inspired by the community surrounding natural wine for years, especially by women who are propping each other up left and right—dang it feels good to be here!
