L’uva Bella’s Sergi: Building Ladders to Scale Walls
Marisa Sergi, co-owner of the L’uva Bella Winery in Lowellville and Redhead Wines, is coming back strong. You can read more about the winery at its website.
What are some ways the COVID-19 outbreak has affected your work life, and how is it rebounding?
To be honest, we were very fortunate to not have to shut down during the pandemic. We are among the agricultural businesses that were allowed to remain open. During this time, we took the precautions needed to keep everyone safe and feel comfortable going to work. Besides that, we’ve been challenged by the many breaks in the global supply chain. For example, it has been tough to consistently source glass bottles and our branded L’uva Bella Winery boxes. We are spot-buying a lot of our material, which isn’t the most ideal way to purchase; but it is a blessing to be able to obtain bottles when some other wineries aren’t able to do so.
How has the outbreak affected your personal life?
I am very grateful and lucky to say the pandemic has not affected my personal life besides the need to use extra protection when visiting friends, family and out in public. I am happy to oblige to all necessary rules to keep everyone safe and healthy
What steps are you taking to come back strong?
We have implemented excellent inventory and forecasting programming to keep track of supply and demand. We are producing more wine than ever, which allows for more employee growth and more opportunities to support our community and beyond.
What advice are you sharing with the people you love?
The best advice I have been giving lately is this: “If a wall is built around you, build a bigger ladder to climb over it.” It is important to find different routes to accomplish what you need, even when large challenges are put in front of you.
How has your purchase of the winery worked out with the timing of the pandemic?
My business partner, Evan Schumann, and I were very enthusiastic about the opportunity to take over L’uva Bella Winery starting in October 2019. Weeks before we closed on the deal, the pandemic and shutdowns hit across the nation. We were nervous to proceed at first, but as we considered our options, we realized that no matter what, we would do what it took to remain successful. I am glad we took the risk. We have hired several new people and the company has grown significantly during this year. This is only due to our fantastic team and our collaborative ability to find new ways to conduct business in this ever-changing landscape we call 2020.