We had the good fortune of connecting with Dana Gurela and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dana, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I’m from central Illinois in the heart of growing corn and soybeans! Being from such an agricultural area definitely helped me understand all that goes into farming grapes. Although I will say that wandering in a vineyard is so much more romantic than hiding from your friends in a corn field!!

What should our readers know about your business?
We are a retail wine shop and tasting room in Roswell, GA. I think there are a few things that set us apart. First is that we offer 32 wines in our Napa Technology WineStation Machines. They are self service wine preservation systems that customers can operate with a smart card. We often hear that it’s like the Dave & Busters for adults or World of Coke for wine! This really makes wine seem less pretentious. At the same time it’s a great way to offer so many varieties while eliminating waste and spoilage. We also serve a fantastic selection of sparkling wines by the glass, local craft beers, non-alcoholic wines & other beverages! There’s something for everyone!

Another thing that sets us apart is the commitment we have to supporting our community. We are always excited to partner with local charities by hosting events to raise funds on their behalf. We are also committed to helping other Roswell small businesses any way we can. Getting through the pandemic together has made us all stronger!

Our staff of hospitality specialists is the number one thing that sets us apart. They make everyone feel welcome and bend over backwards to ensure every customer has an exceptional experience at Deep Roots. We are lucky enough to have the same core group of employees since we opened.

Owning a small business has not always been easy; especially during a pandemic. Every challenge along the way has been overcome by leaning on others and getting sound advice. The good thing is that wine makes everything better!!

The lessons I’ve learned along the way are 1) not to take myself too seriously, 2) don’t take Yelp reviews too personally (you can’t please everyone), 3) always listen to people with differing opinions and consider that mine might actually be wrong, 4) delegate, delegate, delegate, and finally 5) family comes first for my staff, my customers and myself!

My story is not that exciting! But I feel that my story proves it’s possible to find a career that brings you happiness. I was nearly 50 years old when we opened Deep Roots. It really wasn’t until then that I had a career that brought joy, excitement and a sense of accomplishment to my life. It’s the first “job” that has brought a true sense of pride!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Wow! This is a tough one! We have so many wonderful restaurants, shops, and places to visit. Since I believe strongly in Roswell, I’ll highlight my favorites here. Eat
Breakfast – Fellows & Gracious Plenty
Lunch – 1920 Tavern & Salt
Dinner – Bistro VG & A-Street
Takeout – Big Oak Tavern

Drink/Hang Out:
Breweries – From the Earth Brewing (good food too), Gate City & Variant
Coffee – Crazy Love

Shop:
Sunny & Ranney
Steel & Cotton at The Painted Tree
Brilliant Jewelry

Visit:
Chattahoochee Nature Center
The Computer Museum of America

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I give a lot of credit to Ellie Anest, owner of Eleven Eleven Wines where I worked in Napa. She has a great business sense, yet warm hospitable demeanor. Everyone feels special in her presence! She is a master at branding. Everything at Eleven Eleven must fit the brand. She has an eye for detail and can spot even the smallest spec of dirt on the floor. I admire so many of her qualities and try to emulate her with everything I do.

Website: https://www.deeprootswine.co

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deeprootswinemkt/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-gurela-612b26144/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeepRootsWinemkt

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/deep-roots-wine-market-and-tasting-room-roswell-4

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