Valley native competes in global competition

January 2, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

Valley native participates in global competition

LOWELLVILLE

Marisa Sergi is still a senior in college, but she’s already ahead of making a career out of her passion.

“I found a passion for wine making growing up,” she said.

Sergi inherited that passion from her parents, Frank and Ruth Sergi, the owners of L’uva Bella Winery, 6597 Center Road. Marisa and her team are participating in the 2015 Queen’s Entrepreneurs’ Competition, which is described as one of the longest-running undergraduate business-plan competitions in the world.

The team received the news that it was selected, among numerous submissions, as one of the top 15 teams invited to Kingston, Ontario, Canada, for the final round. The team will make a pitch to a panel of judges late this month with a chance to win the top prize of $15,000.

“I am so excited to represent Youngstown, Ohio, at The Queen’s Entrepreneurs’ Competition,” Marisa said. “I’m hoping to get a win for the [Mahoning] Valley.”

She developed her own wine brand startup, RedHead Wine, as part of a capstone project for her enology and viticulture major at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., in November 2012. RedHead is a sweet and spicy red-wine blend that is marketed to millennials and women.

The wine entered the market in October 2013 through Sergi’s parents’ winery and select stores including those in such as Struthers and East Liverpool.

Marisa said she also ships wine to 18 states through VinoShipper, based in Windsor, Calif. Additionally, she also signed on with Columbus-based Superior Beverage Group to distribute her wine last August.

“She brings a sweet and spicy tang to it,” said Charles Crespi, the winemaker at L’uva Bella, with whom Marisa worked when developing the wine.

She has produced 1.600 gallons of her wine so far.

Marisa said if she wins the competition, the prize money would go toward supplies to help expand her company. She also has plans to enter the market in Pennsylvania.

On the other hand, she is excited to turn her inherited passion for wine making into a career.

“I’m just very honored to have the support of my family and community,” Marisa said.