The south is well-known for delectable dining.

It is not, however, known for fine wines. Chateau Elan Winery & Resort, located one hour outside of Atlanta, Georgia, is looking to change that.

When you think of wine and the United States, California obviously comes to mind first, followed by others like Oregon, Washington, and even the Finger Lakes area in New York.

With a winemaker from Italy and a Sommelier from Chile, plus a recent multi-million-dollar renovation, Chateau Elan offers a feeling of a luxury international escape without that long transatlantic flight.

Here¡¯s what guests can expect with a stay at Chateau Elan Winery & Resort.

Accommodations

We checked in and were greeted with a toast of Champagne before we entered our 400-square-feet Deluxe King room which overlooked the pool at The Inn.

I loved the custom headboards and modern touches throughout. A stocked mini bar that still has space in the fridge for my own water bottle is always a nice feature.

Activities for guests include access to complimentary bikes to ride around the property, a fitness center, nature trails, golf courses, tennis and pickleball courts, spa services, wellness classes, wine education classes, mixology demonstrations, a culinary studio for cooking classes, and a fire pit with S¡¯mores kits available in the lobby shop.

The Spa Suites are a standout for anyone looking to have a more wellness focused stay, and the resort also offers two- and three-bedroom villas, great for families or groups seeking a more excluded space.

The resort positions itself as ¡°an intimate French country estate,¡± which you see right away when you pull up to the entrance. The vineyards and the massive winery building greet you down the long Tour de France Road, and my mind goes back to the places I visited during my summer 2017 trip in France. Chateau Elan certainly delivers on providing a slice of the French countryside to guests.

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Wining & Dining

I know what you¡¯re thinking ¨C good wine in the state of Georgia? Surely they don¡¯t have the soil for that!

Thankfully, Chateau Elan imports its grapes from around the globe to craft its award-winning wines. ?

They do grow some of their own on property, but it¡¯s only the muscadine grape.

So, if red is more your style, fear not ¨C Winemaker Simone Bergese, who hails from Alba and has over 25 years of making wine around the world, has you covered. My favorites were the Mameli Red Blend and the Bioterra Petite Sirah.

My wife loved the sparkling brut, which is the resort¡¯s spin on a classic Prosecco.

We both loved the Premium Sommelier Selection experience though, where Sommelier Matias Henriquez, who was born and raised in Chile, pairs four wines with tapas to match. He curated together one white with three distinctively different reds, the last of which was a port wine.

It was educational and informative, yet light-hearted and fun. We learned that far too often the casual wine drinker isn¡¯t pairing their food with their wine correctly, leading to people disliking the wine when in reality, the taste from the food significantly altered their taste of the wine.

Bergese arrived in 2012 and has transformed the wine options here, growing from seven wines to now producing over 30 wines and over 45,000 cases each year.

The premiere dinner spot on sight is Marc Bar & Restaurant, an upscale chophouse with a southern twist located in the winery building. The Australian wagyu steak was the size of my face and cooked to perfection.

You want brunch? Fleur de Lis, located inside the spa building, is the spot to go for breakfast, brunch or lunch. We ate here for brunch, and I¡¯m still dreaming about the French toast. Oh, and ask for a window seat that overlooks the small lake.

Another unique offering for guests to elevate their stay is afternoon tea at the Inn. Select from a variety of tea options followed by a beautiful tray of classic teatime bites, like mini sandwiches, macarons, and more.

Maybe you love wine but the person you¡¯re traveling with is craving a draft beer and some pub grub? No problem, the resort has an authentic Irish Pub on property with plenty of Guinness flowing. Paddy¡¯s Irish Pub was built in Ireland and then transported to the resort in 1997. The fish and chips were classic, and when the waitress recommended the cheesesteak because it¡¯s a popular item, we were hooked.

Other restaurants on property include American cuisine at Versailles Restaurant, Le Petit Caf¨¦, which is a Parisian-style coffee and pastry shop, and the sports bar and lounge Louis' House of Bourbon.

The top dining experience on property though just might be the meal you make yourself during a cooking class in the Culinary Studio. The menu, curated by Chef Chad Hicks, rotates to focus on seasonal dishes. We made an heirloom tomato salad, and a summer Bolognese followed by angel food cake.

You can certainly wine and dine to your heart¡¯s content Chateau Elan Winery & Resort.

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