Visiting Napa in 2009 sparked my passion for wine. The vibrant beauty of the vineyards, the aroma of oak barrels, and the distinct flavor of each wine made a lasting imprint on my soul. I felt so “at home” and desired to stay there forever. I nearly got my wish when my husband, Todd, was transferred to the Bay Area for work in 2012. We lived less than an hour from Napa and Sonoma so we spent most weekends exploring wine country.
My passion turned into an obsession. I wanted to be immersed in wine and become more educated, so I went to wine school! There I learned that wine is so much more than fermented grapes. It is a combination of art and science that brings each aroma and flavor profile to life. Each winemaker creates their own recipe and can employ a multitude of techniques to develop specific characteristics of a wine.
In the vineyard, it’s the soil, sun, climate, topography, and water (or lack thereof) that all contribute to the characteristics of the fruit. In fact, the most fascinating concept I learned is that stressed vines actually lead to the best wines. Vines that struggle to obtain water and nutrition will result in Roots that must dig Deep into the soil and work harder. This ultimately results in smaller, more concentrated berries, resulting in wines with more structure, intensity and complexity.
I began working at a winery in Napa. It was my dream job! Here I was in the town that I loved, surrounded by vineyards, working with the amazing people who planted the vines, harvested the grapes, and created the beautiful wines in our glasses. For the first time, going to work was an absolute pleasure! However, as much as I was loving my wine country life, I was missing my family in Georgia terribly. I felt a strong pull to get back to my “Roots”.
When we moved to Roswell in 2017, I knew that I wanted to share my passion for California wine country with the residents of this amazing city. That’s how Deep Roots came to life. It’s the perfect combination of my passion for family and my passion for wine.
I cannot wait to share this experience with you!
Dana Gurela Owner, Deep Roots Wine Market & Tasting Room California Wine Appellation Specialist WSET Level 2