- Summer Concert Series -
July through August

Join us under the twinkling lights of the Winery Pavilion on select weekends from July through September. Bring your friends, a picnic basket, and come early for free dance lessons!

- Vineyard Fest -
August

11th Annual Vineyard Fest
August 26th, 2007
Noon - 5 p.m.

Thanks to everyone who attended this year's event!
[View the photo gallery for a recap of the festivities.] 

Our 11th Annual Vineyard Fest included over 100 different wines from around the world, wine tasting, tours and seminars.  Vineyard Fest is a wonderful time for anyone who loves wine to experience all our Winery has to offer while the vineyards are in full bloom.

This year's wine festival will limit ticket sales to 2,000 to ensure a fun and engaging day so everyone can experience the best of many regional, national and international wines, chef seminars, live music, grape stomping and slow-cooked southern BBQ! 

That's right, we said BBQ.  We are rolled out the huge BBQ smoker that was featured on the TV series BBQ America during their filming at Chateau Elan.  Our BBQ specialist Chef Russell McClendon served up slow-cooked southern BBQ dishes as well as an assortment of other great foods to enjoy with the wine.

Leave the kids at home, but bring an appetite to indulge in all the wine festivities.  Ticket price is all-inclusive of the day's food, wine, activities and seminars. 

Please be aware many activities take place out-doors, and August can bring some hot sunny days in Georgia, so plan accordingly.  While we will have plenty of water available, be sure to dress cool!

Cooking Demonstrations
Learn about the finer points of classical cooking from heralded chefs from three of greater Atlanta’s top restaurants; Chris Hope, Chef/Owner of
Sperata in Buford, Gary Mennie, Chef/Owner of Tauras and Joseph Truex, Chef/Owner of Repast, both in midtown Atlanta, plus Château Élan’s Executive Chef Marc Suennemann will offer cooking demonstrations in our new Culinary Studio in the winery. Each demonstration will run approximately 45 minutes. Location: Culinary Studio on 1st floor of Winery. Times are subject to change.

12:15 pm Chef Gary Mennie, Tauras
1:15 pm Chris Hope, Sperata
2:15 pm Joseph Truex, Repast
4:15 pm Marc Suennemann, Château Élan

Wine Demonstrations
Mari Stull, (The Vino Vixen) Alexandria Va. Wine columnist, Gary Lynn from King Estate in Oregon, Alastair Rimmer, winemaker at Diablo Grande, California, Peter Kasprzak, Château Élan winemaker will be hosting wine seminars upstairs in the Bordeau Room of the winery. Each
demonstration will run approximately 30 minutes. Location: Bordeaux Room on 2nd floor of winery.  Times are subject to change.

12:45 pm Gary Lynn
1:30 pm Mari Stull
2:15 pm Alastair Rimmer
2:45 pm Peter Kasprzak

Live Painting in the Art Gallery
Talented artist Ian Greathead whose wine related canvasses hang in top galleries and prominent homes moves his studio to Château Élan for Vineyard Fest. See Ian Greathead in action painting his wine portraits in the Art Gallery upstairs on the 2nd floor in the Winery.

Taste of Château Élan
We decided to spice things up a bit with Barbecue ever since PBS shot thirteen episodes of BBQ America national TV series at Château Élan last Fall. BBQ does pair well with wines as you’ll soon experience. Your tastebuds will also relish foods from our very own restaurants with Vineyard Fest dishes ranging from French, International, and Spa cuisine to Southern regional and All-American including traditional Irish fare from Paddy’s Irish Pub.

Guest Winery Tastings
More than 100 different wines from the world’s finest vineyards including France, Spain, Italy, Chile, Australia, Austria, Germany, New Zealand, Georgia, California, Washington, Oregon, and North Carolina are available for tastings. A complete winery and distributor listing as well as the wines they will be pouring are located below.

Grape Stomping
Experience the ancient annual ritual and fun of grape stomping in your bare feet. Located on the lawn between the Pavilion and Paddy’s parking lot.

Live Music
The League of Decency band returned for their 6th Annual appearance at Vineyard Fest adding a little jazz, swing, and smooth rock to the day’s festivities. The sounds of this seven piece band with a three horn section makes everyone want to get up and dance.

The 2007 Guest Wineries Included

Guenoc Winery (California)
Banfi Vintners (Italy & Chile)
Habersham Winery (Georgia)
Sharp Mountain Vineyards (Georgia)
Blackstock Vineyards & Winery (Georgia)
Robert Mondavi (California)
Ravenswood (California)
Crane Creek Vineyards (Georgia),
Wolf Mountain Vineyards (Georgia)

Cecchetti Wine Company
Degrees Wine from Lake County, Redtree (California)

William, Grant & Sons, Inc.
Returning this year to pour wines from California, France and Italy...

Bennett Family Reserve Chardonnay, Bennett Family Reserve Cabernet
Big Red Monster  (California Meritage), Brancaia TRE  (Super Tuscan)
Brancaia Chianti Classico, Lillet (Bordeaux Aperitif)
Marco Negri Moscato d’Asti (Italian Dessert Wine)

Our friends at Pacific Wine Partners will be presenting Wines from...

Blackstone (California), Hardy's (Austrialia), Nobilo (New Zealand),
Rex Goliath (California), Twin Fin (California), Hogue (Washington)

Billington Wine Imports will also be pouring:

Thanks to everyone who attended this event!
[View the photo gallery for a recap of the festivities.]