Discover Chateau Elan's seasonal exclusives.
PHOTO BY RAE CONNER/CHATEAU ELAN WINERY AND RESORT
It’s no secret that Chateau Elan (@chateau_elan) is a Georgia staple. This 3,500- acre expanse is one of the east coast’s largest and most awarded wineries. Arriving on the property of the elegant French-reminiscent country estate, you inevitably feel their dedication to reflecting the rich history and class of vino. As the beauty of the chateau captures, your appreciation for wine culture inflates. Perhaps you’ve experienced a wine tasting at the North Georgia landmark, but the offerings surpass that. The legendary resort presents tourists and locals an exclusive culinary experience, with its limited-time Chef and Winemaker Dinner happening just once per season. This first-class experience was born a dozen years ago out of winemaker Simone Bergese’s passion for creating the perfect wine and chef Justin Kurtz’s desire to find inspo to produce the ideal dish. “I find inspiration in ingredients. A fresh vegetable or herb that has come into season inspires me to want to showcase it in a dish.”
Packages include a deluxe overnight stay at the inn and an unforgettable multi-course dinner for two finely crafted by chef Kurtz. Upon arrival, guests will enjoy an authentic charcuterie reception with Chateau Elan sparkling wine apéritif atop the foyer stairwell. Savory prosciutto, tender lamb burgers, homemade jams and natural honeycomb appetizers flaunted serving towers for guests to indulge in. Chef Kurtz creatively organizes the culinary journey, “Coming up with the menu for the wine dinner is fun but also a challenge. We usually come up with a theme that we would like to do to get started. I also try to flow the dinner as traditionally as possible, with twists along the way. I like to think of the night as a one-off. I can come up with dishes that I wouldn’t put in one of the restaurants or cook something that someone would normally see at a restaurant. A lot of my food is taking simple ideas or recipes and making them my own.”
Chateau Elan Mameli being poured PHOTO BY RAE CONNER/CHATEAU ELAN WINERY AND RESORT
Each French-inspired course is paired with a complementary wine by master Italian winemaker Bergese. The vino virtuoso’s expertise spans three countries: Italy, Australia and the U.S.. Under Bergese’s specialization and leadership, Chateau Elan has increased its quantity of awards by 300 at various global wine competitions. Even after being in the industry for a few decades, his dedication remains, “I think it comes down to producing something meaningful. After these many years in making wines, in crafting all kind of styles and types, I found pleasure and satisfaction in creating something authentic with some sort of connections with the territory or the history or simply a new trend. Whatever [the] reasons, I always go for a profile that can be understood and can convert into a pleasant tasting and sensory experience.” After savoring a few of his blends, it’s futile to argue his impactful talent that has revived the winery’s popularity.
Chef Justin Kurtz and winemaker Simon Bergese explaining meal and wine pairings for the dinner presentation. PHOTO BY RAE CONNER/CHATEAU ELAN WINERY AND RESORT
Though I sampled eight glasses across five courses, from sparkling rosés to whites and reds, I must bring to the fore the Chateau Elan Mameli paired with main course beef bourguignon, braised pearl onions and mushrooms. Boasting an exceptional flavor profile, this dry yet fruity medium-to-full body Mameli is a pleasant journey for red wine enthusiasts from scent to finish. Winemaker Bergese reveals, “Mameli was my favorite wine of the night. I like planning on making Mameli because it is a three-year process starting from having the perfect grape quality, the aging and then the blending. I also have a personal appeal to this wine as it was one of the first very successful super premium I made here at Chateau Elan. Additionally, it is a blend of Italian varieties, two of them from my very own native region, Piedmont. It’s my most elegant wine among the portfolio of what we produce, and we only make it when all the three varieties in the blend show a great profile.”
Fourth course dish, beef bourguignon with braised pearl onions and mushrooms PHOTO BY RAE CONNER/CHATEAU ELAN WINERY AND RESORT
The Chef and Winemaker dinner is an exclusive experience foodies, and lovers of luxe must have at least once, but we’ll put money on it that you’ll return. chef Kurtz persuades, “My hope is that the attendees will experience something they haven’t before. Try something they have never seen and make the night feel special. Some of the food I will most likely not cook again and the guest will not eat again. It makes me feel as though the night is special, no one else will be eating this menu tonight or any other night.”
Elegant table setting PHOTO BY RAE CONNER/CHATEAU ELAN WINERY AND RESORT
Photography by: Rae Conner
Chateau Elan Winery and Resort
