On Friday, October 22nd, Ro and I traveled to Georgia to visit Ro's parents. About 5 years ago they relocated to Dacula, Georgia, which is a fastly growing town about 45 mintues outside of Atlanta. Over those 5 years, they have established a beautiful home, and remarkably it seems that several members of the Manning Family have now also made Georgia their home as well.
On Saturday we all hit Publix (the grocery chain down there) to prepare for a BBQ that night. It was so nice to have friends and family come from the surrounding areas to welcome us. (I tried to take a few pictures, but as you can see from Ro's face, he wasn't too keen on it. Although Ro's mom was!)
Manning cousins and a friend. (The three girls on the right are three of the four daughters of Ro's cousin Carlton. Carlton's dad is Uncle Herb (who also lives in Georgia), who is a younger brother of Rohan's grandfather).
Cousin Paul. (Paul's father is one of many brothers of Mr. Manning's father/Rohan's grandfather. It has taken a few years, but I'm finally starting to put together the genealogic pieces of Ro's family tree!)
The weather was gorgeous down there (mid 80's and sunny!) so Ro and I ventured on a mini-hike together on the nature trail that is built around the housing development.
When we got deep enough, we discovered a lovely little creek. It was really peaceful and beautiful.
On Sunday we headed just a few miles from the Manning's home to
Chateau Elan, a vineyard that produces its own wine on site, using the Muscadine grape. This grape tends to produce a sweeter wine that is very fragrant. (It smells like grape juice!)
We took a tour and learned all about the winemaking process. (You'll see the big stainless steel tanks behind the Mannings. Big winemakers actually use these instead of oak barrels. This way they have easier access to the wine as it ages and can change the taste and alcoholic content by adding different ingredients to taste. However, the wine is still "oaked" by dropping oak planks into the tanks).
When the tour was done, we tasted! And taste we did: 5 big pours (half glasses each!).
A family shot outside the Chateau.
On Saturday we all hit Publix (the grocery chain down there) to prepare for a BBQ that night. It was so nice to have friends and family come from the surrounding areas to welcome us. (I tried to take a few pictures, but as you can see from Ro's face, he wasn't too keen on it. Although Ro's mom was!)
Manning cousins and a friend. (The three girls on the right are three of the four daughters of Ro's cousin Carlton. Carlton's dad is Uncle Herb (who also lives in Georgia), who is a younger brother of Rohan's grandfather).
Cousin Paul. (Paul's father is one of many brothers of Mr. Manning's father/Rohan's grandfather. It has taken a few years, but I'm finally starting to put together the genealogic pieces of Ro's family tree!)
The weather was gorgeous down there (mid 80's and sunny!) so Ro and I ventured on a mini-hike together on the nature trail that is built around the housing development.
When we got deep enough, we discovered a lovely little creek. It was really peaceful and beautiful.
On Sunday we headed just a few miles from the Manning's home to Chateau Elan, a vineyard that produces its own wine on site, using the Muscadine grape. This grape tends to produce a sweeter wine that is very fragrant. (It smells like grape juice!)
We took a tour and learned all about the winemaking process. (You'll see the big stainless steel tanks behind the Mannings. Big winemakers actually use these instead of oak barrels. This way they have easier access to the wine as it ages and can change the taste and alcoholic content by adding different ingredients to taste. However, the wine is still "oaked" by dropping oak planks into the tanks).
When the tour was done, we tasted! And taste we did: 5 big pours (half glasses each!).
A family shot outside the Chateau.
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