Megan Sekermestrovich: Lula

Ohlone, Muwekma (Ohlone), and Chochenyo (Ohlone) land - Oakland, California

www.itslulaseason.com, @itslulaseason

Megan Sekermestrovich is a winemaker, fashion designer, and goofball living in Oakland, California. Her curiosity and enthusiasm for natural wine became career-altering in 2019 when she sought out a WWOOFing opportunity in late July, suckering the steepest rows of biodynamic pinot noir. Come harvest, Megan met Noel Diaz of Purity Wine at The Richmond Wine Collective for a tasting and left with the invitation to make something of her own—that week. With 1/3 ton of organic grapes under her feet, her label Lula took shape.

Lula State Flower 2019 debuted in 2020 at wine fairs By The Way and WINeFare SF before shipping out to retailers who promote equity in wine and social justice. Self-propelled and undeterred, Megan produces zero-zero, vision-backed wines that are themselves spontaneous, too.

Social Justice Statement

With every new grower Megan works with, she sends a long questionnaire asking about everything from the number of full time employees and how their healthcare is obtained, to what inputs are used in the vineyard. The answers to these questions help her decide if she moves forward with purchasing the fruit, but also starts the conversation with all of the facts on the table. Retail-wise, Megan has allocated wines to womxn-helmed shops first and foremost since the beginning. And in an effort to support those affected by the Sierra Foothills fires in 2021, Megan donated 5% of proceeds from a smoke-impacted wine made from the region that year, named This Wine is Fire.