Having the opportunity to spend a work filled day with these talented men was a dream. Learning from such a talented wine maker as Simone was also the stuff that every Somm lives for! But this day was all about the Muscadine grape! Chateau Elan only grows Muscadine on the property. All other varietals are grown in Lake County, California and produced in the Chateau Elan Winery.

The Muscadine grape is a varietal native to the south eastern and south central regions of the United States. It grows naturally in Georgia, so if you grew up here, you likely had these grapes growing right in your own backyard. Can we say “homemade wine!”.

Learning from award winning wine maker simone burgese.

It was truly a pleasure to spend the day in a vineyard with wildly talented Simone Burgese. When you think of well structured wine, Simone is a genius at this! Balancing tannin, acid, sugar, and alcohol levels to make exceptional wine is no small feat. Burgese makes the wine taste as if it were a walk in the park! Although Chateau Elan only grows Muscadine grapes on their property; the other varietals are grown in Lake county California, harvested, shipped to Chateau Elan and produced by Simone and his phenomenal team creating delicious award winning wine! The winemaker himself is beyond humble and down-to-earth. The man knows his stuff when it comes to wine making. A native of wine giant Italy, it is naturally in the very fabric of his DNA. 

Chateau Elan features a large selection of wine varietals alongside their native grape Muscadine. Everything from Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio, Tempranillo, several blends, and even American Port! There is something here for every palate and taste and it truly is the best time of the year for wine culture. If you book a tour in the winery, you may just see all of the wine making magic happening right before your eyes in the production and bottling rooms.