Winemaker, Free soul, Vintner, Dreamer, Sunshine and Wine Lover, Kiteboarder, Cape Town, South Africa

It proved challenging to take a single serious photo of Ms. Luisa Sedlmayr, when she is not seraphically beaming into the camera. Pure joy! It was a gut punch to read about the challenges that have entered Luisa’s life. However, they have not dimmed her shine and for this I am grateful. Maya Angelou once wrote: “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” Come out Luisa did, returning to her passion - wine. There is nothing but an open road ahead filled with savouring, enjoying nature, pursuing her passions.

Thank you Luisa, for writing your truth, for your open mind and heart, for rising above the defeats, for surviving. The world needs your energy, passion and positivity.

Humbled and overjoyed to present a full interview with a self-proclaimed free soul and our latest WOW Woman.

1. Name

Luisa-Sophia Sedlmayr.

2. Where is your hometown?

My hometown is Alling (a small village next to Munich), but I feel at home in different places. Currently living in Flörsheim-Dalsheim (a small village next to Frankfurt, in Germany).

3. What is your profession/career/title/self-label/designation? What does your average day look like?

Free soul. Vintner. Winemaker. Dreamer. Sunshine. Wine lover.

As a Vintner/Winemaker you don’t always have an “average day”, as you live life in the cycle of nature. Currently, my days look like this: Wake up call mostly early in the morning (5:30AM) followed by stretching. For breakfast, only good black coffee, and let's go outside, out into the vineyards. Our work depends on the season. It's winter in Germany, so we are pruning the vines. It is important to set the base and define the quality for the upcoming vintage. That is essential.

We work from sunrise to sunset. The fresh morning air and the fantastic sunrises are always worth getting up early. With every sunrise, I feel grateful for a new day that has begun. 

After work, chatting and calls with family and friends. If I have time and still some energy (bodywork can be exhausting sometimes), I study for my The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Diploma – wines of the world (The Level 4 Diploma in Wines is WSET's flagship qualification, providing in-depth knowledge and understanding of wines and the global industry. It's divided into mandatory units, each focusing on a key element of the world of wines, and you must pass every unit to gain the qualification). I then cook and have dinner, sharing good food and good wine with friends. 

Before going to bed, I stretch again, and write in my diary. I often can't wait to go to bed as I can't wait to get up in the morning. This tiny thought showed me that something was right. For sure, I also can't wait to go to bed as a day of physical work and fresh air make you tired and exhausted. By the end of the day, I can often feel every single muscle. But that's what gives me a sense that I'm ALIVE, and believe me, I sleep so well!

4. What did you study in school?

I’ve loved doing multiple things at once in life. Same with my decisions for studies. My mom (cakemaker) used to run a gastronomic café and a restaurant by this time in her life also. Growing up here, I couldn't decide which profession of the broad range of jobs in tourism and gastronomy to study.

I went to Tyrol to study Tourism and Hospitality at Tourismuskolleg Innsbruck (Tourism College Innsbruck). Crucial for my decision was not only the wide-ranging study program (perfect for me) but also the possibility to qualify as a "Jungsommelière Austria" (Young Sommelier Austria). This quickly became the most exciting subject for me during my early years, and I ended up graduating with distinction, being the best student in my school year. 

5. What was the journey like to get where you are (in life and career-wise)? Write about some of the achievements that you are most proud of. 

Since childhood, wine has always fascinated me. How come? For as long as I can remember me and my family spent our Christmas vacations in Cape Town, South Africa. Influenced by spending a part of the year in a wine region, I already presented my favorite wine at 14. I can't tell you why, but I somehow always said I wanted to work or own a winery back then. But I got distracted and nearly forgot all about it. 

My study time in Innsbruck was crucial. Part of the Young Sommelier qualification was to create a fictional wine menu and a brand story. As I made this, my goal and DREAM to develop this for my own business one day was born. After being so close to my dream, LIFE KNOCKED ME DOWN (see Question #7).

I quit the wine industry.

I worked in a marketing agency for 1.5 years. But as soon as my problems were solved, I got back on my feet again. I met with Romana (Master of Wine), who, by chance, used to live in the same village as I did. She showed me the possibilities of entering the world of wine. Romana inspired me enormously with her personality and career and showed me that there are POWER WOMEN in the World of Wine. So I continued with wine education WSET LEVEL 3. (WSET Wine and Spirit Education globally recognized as the international standard in wine and spirit knowledge.) Then COVID and Lockdown ruined my plans of traveling around the world to study wine. Therefore I was forced to stay in Germany. I remember being frustrated that I couldn't follow my "original" plan. But then, looking now in hindsight, it was the best thing that could have happened to me. Without the lockdown, I wouldn't be in this wonderful place I am today! (I'll come back to that later). 

After successfully passing Level 3, my teacher encouraged me to go onto Level 4 of the WSET Diploma. It’s a BIG step from Level 3. More or less at the end of the WSET qualification, after Level 4, only Master of wine comes next. But I said, “Alright, let's do this!”

The studies for Diploma are interesting, but somehow talking about wine without ever making wine felt wrong. I wanted to experience and be part of a wine harvest for the first time in my life. I took holidays to work as an intern. I did my internship in Rheingau. And what can I say? I somehow was HAPPY WITHOUT ANY REASON, other than enjoying what I did. I couldn't wait to get up the next day, go into the vineyards. I kept on saying to the team: "WOW, you've got the most amazing job in the world!” The team responded: "Well, Luisa – maybe you should become a vintner then." Haha, a good joke! Sure, me a vintner. It sounded so ridiculous and crazy.

But with every new day, I thought, why not?!

Long story short, at the end of my 10-day internship (felt like a lifetime), I didn't want to leave, but I knew I needed to. Suddenly, tears ran down my cheeks on my way back as I was driving. I cried because it felt like my heart and my soul were speaking to me: "This is your way - that's what you're here for!" I thought shi*, no more excuses. Knowing but not listening to my heart, not following that dream, would be like lying to myself. And I think there's nothing worse than lying to yourself. Because YOU know the truth.

But the truth is not always easy. Believe me, I struggled A LOT with the decision to do a two-year apprenticeship to become a vintner. It meant I needed to change my whole life upside down. I felt doubt. I cried. I was terrified. Then I just thought that I had to do it right away. I did not want to wait any longer. And before my doubts derailed me, I applied for some wineries. The decision where to live was also made by my heart, which told me where to go. Even after I made the decision, I was still struggling. The nearer the day came, the more insecure I became. I called my friends and my family with the hope they would assure me that I wasn’t crazy, that I made the right decision. But what's RIGHT and WHO can tell? I just dared and did it. I reasoned that if I didn’t try, I’d never know. A mere idea of living out my dream filled my eyes with the tears of joy and my face broke out with a smile, from ear to ear. That smile never left me since.

Since that moment, I have been a happy winemaker trainee. I have never regretted my decision, not for a second. And do you know what? All of a sudden, it's not a crazy thing to be in the vineyard every day; it's rather normal. Not just normal, but AMAZING. I found my passion, I am now so looking forward to my journey.

What was the moment for you that changed your life (in your personal life and/or career?) that set you on the current path in life?

JOB - harvesting in the vineyard during my internship – and realizing wow, "work" can also look like this!

PERSONAL -starting therapy.

6. How is your life different from what you pictured at 20?

Well, that wasn’t so long ago, just four years. But 20 feels like another life. At 20, I was living in Innsbruck, Austria, and was studying. I wasn't as in-tune with myself as I am right now. I often hid behind a fake smile, so nobody saw that something wasn’t right. I thought I always needed to be happy, that I had to put only a happy face, and that life was only about the ups. Today I know that life is a process, of ups and downs, and always will be. It's normal and OK not to be happy 24/7. No-one’s life is 100% perfect. Today I allow myself to experience and SHOW ALL feelings, which feels so liberating. This honesty also brought me closer to my family and friends. So please BE REAL in your lives too!!

7. Was there a time when life knocked you down or out and how did you get back up on your feet?

I was raped at the age of 20 by a (physically) strong man, who is influential in the wine industry. After this happened it ruined my dream of a career in the wine business and nearly extinguished my fire for wine. At the time I decided to go on to something that had NOTHING to do with wine. I thought that perhaps wine will be one day a hobby for me.

So, I worked in a marketing agency. That was my escape. I did not want to face the problem, so I lost myself. Totally. I lost my fire, happiness, and a, once strong, belief in humans. While I was in therapy with a real WOW Woman, I learned that problems needed to be faced, in order to be relieved. Step by step. While going through my journey of therapy, and forgiveness, I rediscovered myself, and my fire for wine came back slowly, it sparked once again. And you know what? STRONGER than EVER before. I promised myself that NOBODY and NOTHING would get me away from my passion for wine ever again! 

Today I am proud I got back up on my feet; I’m at peace and feel calm. I know that being grateful for what happened may sound ridiculous or even completely stupid to some people, but now I'm proud that I am. I experienced forgiveness. And due to this occurrence, I faced my the problems of my soul. I learned at an early age – that everything happens for a reason. I learned that so-called "knock-downs" or "red lights " turn out to be no longer setbacks but EXACTLY the right pathways. Without them I wouldn't be the person I am today, exactly in the place I am at my happiest. It's a part of me.

Please don't get me wrong, I'm not happy that it happened. No one should experience something like that. I want to add some advice about “searching for revenge”. Another WOW Woman, who experienced something similar, told me about. Don't use your energy against him; you'll only waste it. Rather use that energy for yourself! That's way more effective. Peace starts in you, not outside.

I want to admit that it still can be tough and challenging to be a (young) woman in the still men-dominated wine industry. But what's the reason I write about it here? I genuinely appeal for honesty. As mentioned, I learned that problems need to be faced in order to be relieved.

So I want to make a little WAKE-UP CALL to all who read this. SEXUAL ABUSE is HAPPENING! I want to encourage EVERY WOMAN in this world to GO OUT and tell their Story. Because you are not alone, we are many!! And I want to encourage women to FACE it, get help, and TALK about it. Then hopefully be able to enjoy life again. Moreover, I call people who read this not to close their eyes and be attentive!

9. Knowing what we know now in a current political climate, can women be "all that we can be" in today's world? What is the way forward, as you see it, for "feminist values"?

Yes, I think we can be all that we can be. Look at all these wonderful WOW Women here. We are proof that it's true. Women need to support other women. Encourage each other. We should stop getting upset; instead let get into the action mode. Let’s use our energy not against the system but for ourselves, lets create awareness (as with this genius website).

In the end, it's the way we treat and respect each other. I recently saw a film about Indian tribes in the Great Plains. Often women were the chiefs, fighters, and leaders. One crucial point was that there was nothing special about a woman being a chief or going hunting because the distinction between men and women didn't exist. Everybody contributed to the community in the best possible way. The community benefited from each individual. And that's how it should be again in the future -no difference. I believe Awareness, Honesty and Responsibility serve as the basis for a harmonious society. With this in place, all other problems dissolve; or rather, they won't even arise.

11. What extracurricular activities/hobbies are you most proud of? Why?

All my family is into watersports, so I started windsurfing at age 5 and carried on until I was 11. Then we all switched to kitesurfing, and I’ve loved it ever since. Currently, I can go kitesurfing during my holidays only; therefore, my goal is to live where I can kitesurf right after or before work.

Kitesurfing taught me something important. If you are facing a big wave, you have three options: 1 - Return quickly, 2 - Bump into the wave head on, or Option 3 - Jump over the wave. Guess which is the most fun? Exactly, jumping over it! As with waves, as is with life. Sometimes it would be easier to bump into things; it hurts a bit and takes longer, but you are going through at least. A big wave can be frightening but just jump, and you'll see, you will fly!

I love cooking! I love creating fun menus for friends and family, and pairing the food with a good wine. 

I love skiing but I do it way too seldom, unfortunately.

12. What do you want to be when you grow up? Future goals/challenges?

Short term goal - After my apprenticeship, become full-time vintner and a wine maker. I want to discover/travel the world working in the different wine countries before one day settling down.

Long term goal: to live on my own wine estate, in the mountains and next to the sea with my future husband and my family. I would be successfully creating high-quality wine with no limits to creativity. And I would also love to grow olives, vegetables and fruit. And ok, some animals can join the farm.

Another goal of mine is finishing my WSET Diploma and maybe one day becoming a Master of Wine! 

Challenges I need to address: Less self-doubt, more trust in myself! I need to hurry less and enjoy the journey more. Life is not tomorrow, not yesterday, it's today – and all we have is NOW!

13. What fears are you still hoping to overcome?

Hmm, not as easy one to answer. I think I want to transform "not being enough" into the feeling of "being enough."

14. Anything you'd do differently, if you had another go at life?

That's a difficult one because I think there's a plan for me as there is one for everybody. As I mentioned above, when looking back on my life thus far, all the red lights are no longer red but green. Everything was exactly meant to happen like this. But if I had to pick one, maybe I would have started therapy right after my parents' divorce. 

15. What/who inspires you?

People who followed their hearts and are living their dream. 

Nature. Music. Traveling.

16. What are you hopeful about?

I hope that more people realize that everything on earth is a harmonious system. That all people are involved in taking care of the environment. "Do more of what's RIGHT and not what's EASY." Everybody can make a change. I hope that we protect, respect, and thank our planet – because we only have it at the moment, as our home. And Mother Nature treats us so well.

I have a hope for the agriculture industry that one day we do not label which products are organic and sustainable because the products will already be. And those products which are not organic will need to be labelled. I also do hope that it will be cheaper for consumers and farmers to be organic. 

I hope that we, in our society, accept every human as he/she is.

I hope that we will life in a world where sexual abuse is no longer common.

I hope that more and more people listen to their hearts and trust their intuition rather than think rationally.

17. What are some ingredients to a good life? Has the global pandemic changed your perspective about the world, about your life, your goals and dreams?

My ingredients are simple. Family + friends + sunshine + music + sports + nature + good wine + good food + wind + travel + meditation = good life 

Pandemic chastened my perspective. I learned that you don't need to travel far and wide; sometimes, the solution is just around the corner. I learned to be flexible with my plans and be willing to start over again. I also learned to make the best out of any situation. 

19. What advice would you give your 14-year-old self?

Enjoy everything RIGHT NOW, because RIGHT NOW is all you have.

20. What are you reading now? (what books do you gift most and what are your favourite reads?)

All books by John Strelecky. Especially “The Why Café” and “Return to The Why Café” as well as the “Big Five for Life”. Currently reading “Conversations with God” by Neale Donald Walsch. 

21. Who is a WOW WOMAN in your world who inspires you and why? Can you nominate three (or more) women you know who perfectly fit WOW WOMAN description? What would you tell them, if you had an opportunity, about why you admire them?

MY MOM, BARBARA SEDLMAYR I nominate you, Mom, because you dared to start your own cake business at a young age in the middle of nowhere. You showed me (and many others) that success follows if you love what you do! Moreover, I love how you traveled all over the world with your harp at the age of 21! Hopefully you will be able to tell the story here soon. Besides that, you are a loving mum. Thank you.

EVA RAPS - a real power woman In the world of wine. You inspire me. I admire you because you saw potential in me and encouraged me to follow my dreams. I found my dream jobs during my internship at the Weingut Kaufmann winery (@weingutkaufmann). I am forever thankful to you.

ROMANA ECHENSBERGER – one of the few female Masters of Wine. A real WOW Woman in the wine industry, a mother, and pure inspiration. You show, with charisma and knowledge, that women can make a significant impact in this field. I also love your passion for biodynamic agriculture. Thank you for your contribution. 

LAURA MALINA SEILER – Thank you for your podcast “Happy, Holy and Confident”. For real! I listened to it for five years, and you accompanied me through all my ups and downs. Your POWER TALKS – shit, I love them so much. Listening to you helped me often, especially when making decisions, when struggling to become calm and focused. Your words are part of my Radio Paradiso show. One quote accompanies me through every situation: “Do what's right, not what's easy”. Thank you so much for your effort and the love you share; keep on rocking! Maybe we'll meet someday! 

MONIKA HILTMAIR - my aunt, a successful career woman, a true fighter and an encourager. You have suffered many setbacks, and for me remain always a true inspiration and a gift to this world. You showed me to never to stop learning and traveling! Your energy is amazing. Thank you.

22. Where can others find you/your work (links to websites, blogs, etc.)

Instagram @grapeful_me 

Email: luisa.sedlmayr@gmail.com

Working on my own website right now.

Bonus Quick Round Qs:

1. What and who is worth suffering for?

Freedom, Justice, Love.

2. What would you do if you knew that nobody would judge you?

Be as I am. 

3. Who is/are your mentor/s (men or women)?

Mostly women in my life: MOM, JULIA my best friend, my AUNTS, my COUSINS.

4. If you didn't have to work anymore what would you do with your days?

I would wake up with my beloved family, have breakfast together, be a vintner, grow my grapes and make great wine. I would enjoy life and time with my family. 

5. If you could be anyone for a day who would you be?

I would live to be my 90 year old me – get all wisdom from her, ask for advice, and see how everything will work out.

6. If you could relive one year in your life, which one would it be?

2021 because it was the best year of my life up to this point. OR any year I was in kindergarten – and just having fun playing.

7. What bothers you most about other people? 

• Adopting other people's opinions and not thinking for yourself. 

• Staying unhappy just because you think you can't change anything.

• Putting other people into pigeonholes without knowing them.

• Not being able to be happy for others.

8. What do you love most about other people?

• Making up your own mind

• Changing things

• Getting to know new people without prejudices

• Being deeply and sincerely happy for others