I am behind on writing about my adventures. Kind of hit a month or so when I just didn’t feel like doing much of anything so I didn’t. My theory is I was just so tired of the heat and being cooped up inside with the air conditioner. I really miss being outside and having the windows open. I did get a couple books read which I haven’t done in a very long time. Steven King’s 11-22-63 and Night Circus. Thank you friend G. Ann for loaning them to me.
Quite by chance in August I got an opportunity to go with my friend from Newcomers, Cindy, on a two night trip to just north of Atlanta GA to the beautiful Chateau Elan Resort, Spa, Conference Center, Golf Course Winery and Vineyard. Cindy is also a big cat lover so we spent a good amount of time talking about our kitties. I didn’t even know Georgia had much wine making going on so it was a very educational trip.
We left on Sat. morning. It is only a 2 1/2 hr. drive. Sat. night they had this spectacular wine and food paring meal out in the vineyard with dessert under the stars. I had a meal like this on my bucket list and it was fabulous. There were only 40 people there, two long tables of 20. We sat with some really interesting folks so it was good company, a beautiful setting, wonderful music and of course great food and wine. All the wine was from Chateau Elan. The pictures tell the story. Each course was a work of art.
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Georgia is known for its Muscadine grapes and wine. The southern US is the only place in the world that these grapes grow. I have to be honest and admit that I am not a fan of Muscadine wine. It is usually quite sweet and has an unusual flavor. The food and wine paring brought one very unexpected combination. We had a salad with quite a bit of gorgonzola cheese and it was the perfect combination with the Muscadine wine. I was really surprised and liked it quite a bit. We had three of their white wines, a couple red wines and port with the chocolate dessert. By the time we got to dessert it was dark outside and all the stars were out and there was a big full moon. It was perfect.
Our room was on the bottom floor and overlooked the golf course so I could read my book out on our little patio. On Sunday we attended the food and wine festival in the winery. The winery is huge. Tens of thousands of square feet on three levels. Includes a large gift shop and demonstration cooking kitchen. I had a great opportunity to collect info on some wineries in north GA which isn’t far from us. There were also quite a few beer breweries. Did you know there is peach beer, orange beer, chocolate beer, coffee beer, vanilla? I didn’t try any of these. Just give me the plain simple beverage.
Click here to get to a map of all the wineries. Some are up in the mountains. Bob and I hope to get to visit some of these when the fall colors arrive in Oct. In addition to tasting wine and eating we went to one cooking demonstration on a yummy pork dish and one wine lecture on Muscadine grapes. Really interesting. Although GA is known for the Muscadine grapes they also grow many other so there is a good selection for everyone.
Sun. night I went for a swim in the pool and soak in the hot tub. It was a great day.
On Sunday we had the brunch at the hotel and took a short tour of the spa, which is in a separate building with its own small hotel. Definitely Chateau Elan is the full package of things to do. The resort is in Braselton GA. Here is an interesting tidbit about Braselton: In 1989 Kim Basinger paid $20 million to buy the entire town of Braselton, Georgia, about 60 miles from Atlanta. Four years later, she was sued for backing out of a film she had agreed to star in, and was forced to sell Braselton for just $1 million. Here is my question – How and who do you buy a town from?
I think this is only my third girls weekend in my life plus I have gone on several weekend retreats but this was different from a retreat. Hope you enjoyed the story. I would definitely recommend visiting the property.
Still to come another time-
Bob and I had a weeks vacation in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia in early June which I haven’t told you about yet. Let me just say that Virginia is an absolutely beautiful state. They have mountains, wineries, scenic wonders and Monticello as well as a lavender farm!
I just read that Southern Living magazine is having a contest for the Tastiest Towns in the South and Greenville is one of the 10 towns picked. Seems the Upstate is popular for contests for the next month or so! You can vote every day through February. Help Greenville win and even better come visit Greenville and taste what all the fuss is about! I will gladly admit that there is no shortage of very good restaurants of all types and at all prices. Nothing is missing! The hardest part is deciding what and where to eat. We have a private wine and food paring meal at the newly remodeled Hyatt in Jan. and I can’t wait.
