Meet Jordan DePascale of Yonah Mountain Vineyards in North of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jordan DePascale.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’m the Event Manager at Yonah Mountain Vineyards located in Cleveland, Georgia! I am in charge venue sales/event management and I work with couples from the moment they book their wedding until they are waving goodbye and heading off to their honeymoon. I am also lucky enough to work alongside my husband Justin who is the Tasting Room Manager and Assistant Winemaker at YMV. We live in North Georgia and we are dog parents to 3 crazy, amazing pups – Bacon, Willow and Norman.

When I think back on how exactly I ended up where I am today, it all seems like a whirlwind. I went to the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega with the plan to be a Physical Therapist. Although I enjoyed my field of study, it never felt like a true passion of mine. After graduation, I took a part-time job at a local winery to support myself while I figured out what my next step would be. What started out as part-time job quickly turned to full-time and before long I was promoted to Tasting Room Manager. I worked as a bartender at a few weddings here and there, but that was the extent of my experience in the wedding industry. It wasn’t until my own wedding that I had a life-changing, light-bulb moment.

I remember exactly how I felt on my wedding day. I was relaxed, stress-free and so incredibly happy. Much of this was due in part to the amazing staff at our venue. Instead of sweating the small stuff, I spent the day soaking up precious moments that I would cherish forever. I remember thinking that every bride should feel that way on her wedding day. That’s the moment when I realized I was meant to work in the wedding industry. When I returned from my honeymoon, I immediately jumped into wedding coordination. I had no prior experience and zero training, but I did have a determination to succeed and yearning to connect with people. This led me to where I am today.

I have been building my career in the North Georgia wine & wedding industry for close to 8 years now, the past 3 of which have been spent at Yonah Mountain Vineyards. Every morning when I pull into work and see the sprawling vineyards and that gorgeous mountain view, I pinch myself.

When couples book at Yonah, I tell them that I will do everything in my power to make sure that they have the best day ever and I truly mean it. I am so fortunate to work in a place that I love, with coworkers that feel like family, the best bosses in the world, and the sweetest couples who trust me with their wedding day. I am grateful.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
In the early years of my career, I worked in an extremely toxic environment. This was hands down the largest obstacle I had to overcome to get where I am today. It’s a bizarre feeling to be falling in love with your job and the industry while simultaneously dreading going into work every day. I loved what I did, but I hated where I was doing it. A person can only be overworked, overstressed and underappreciated for so long before they can’t handle it anymore. I was ready to throw in the towel. I ended up doing what I swore I would never do – I quit my job without a backup plan. It was the most terrifying thing I had ever done, but also the most exhilarating. After feeling trapped for so long, I finally had a reason to look forward to the future and the unknown. As luck would have it, I received a phone call from Yonah Mountain Vineyards the week after I quit and the rest is history.

My advice to anyone who is in a similar position is to take that leap of faith! If you’re miserable at work, it will absolutely seep into the cracks of your personal life as well and life is too short to be unhappy. I now work in an environment where I am respected, appreciated and I’m fortunate enough to be doing what I love every single day. This wouldn’t be the case if I had not escaped that situation when I did. Don’t let one bad work experience hinder you from pursuing your passion and never let the fear of failure hold you back! Things have a way of working out.

Please tell us about Yonah Mountain Vineyards.
Yonah Mountain Vineyards is a 200-acre family winery owned by Bob and Jane Miller and their son Eric. We strive to offer a first-class experience for our guests and I believe this is what truly sets us apart. Our owner Bob is known for being “OTT” – Over the Top – in everything he does and this vineyard is no exception. We aim to produce wine that can compete on a national scale and there is no expense spared when it comes to achieving this goal.

Another distinguishing feature of Yonah Mountain Vineyards is our sustainability initiative. Our energy program includes electric car charging stations, recycling programs, LED low power lighting throughout the facilities and our recent quarter million dollar solar energy investment. Our hope for the future is for our winery and facilities to be completely energy independent.

On the wedding side of things, our goal is for every couple who gets married here to feel like they’re a part of the Yonah family. Naturally, we aim to provide a stress-free, beautiful wedding day, but we also want to remain a special place that our couples can visit for many years to come. Nothing makes me happier than seeing past couples bringing their children to the vineyard to show them where mommy and daddy were married. I pride myself on being personally invested in all of our couples, so I love watching their love stories continue to evolve even after their wedding day.

What were you like growing up?
I was an independent, go-getter as a child. Whether it was ballet, chorus, or cheerleading – I always strived to be the best at every activity I pursued. I guess you could say I was a bit competitive (my husband would argue that I still am). I feel like these traits have served me well as an adult trying to excel in this industry. I give 110% to my job and while I do still have a competitive streak, I am mostly in competition with myself. I simply want to be better today than I was yesterday.

Contact Info:

• Address: 1717 Hwy 255 S
  Cleveland, GA 30528
• Website: www.yonahmountainvineyards.com
• Phone: 706 878 5522
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @yonahmountainvineyards and @yonahmountainvineyardsevents
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/yonahmountainvineyards

Image Credit:
Arrowed Beginnings Photography, Five Fourteen Photography, Garter & Whiskey Photography, Krisandra Evans Photography

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