At first glance you might think Chateau Elan Winery & Resort is in the rolling hills and forests of Bordeaux, France, not 45 miles northeast of Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, USA. With its 16th-century-inspired main castle, one of the most acclaimed wineries in the Southeast, a luxury spa and a full array of restaurants and activities topped by 45 holes of golf for resort and daily-fee play (a fourth layout onsite, the Legends Course, is reserved exclusively for members), Chateau Elan is a unique resort that delights golfers and non-golfers alike.

Chateau Elan started as a humble winery in 1981. The idea of making fine wine in rural Georgia may have seemed quixotic when the vines were first planted, but it didn’t take long for the property to blossom into Georgia’s premier winery. This early success led founders and original owners, pharmaceutical magnates Donald and Nancy Panoz to transform the huge property into a full-scale luxury resort. Wine and golf make for a natural pairing, especially on the gorgeous rolling, wooded terrain that exudes tranquility even though it is just an hour from bustling Atlanta. And make no mistake—golf is a big deal at Chateau Elan Winery & Resort. Guests and daily fee players enjoy access to two contrasting eighteens and a delightful 9-hole par 3 executive course, all of which were built by renowned course architect Denis Griffiths. Griffiths’ career has spanned many decades and included projects all over the world (he notably designed a course outside of St. Andrews for the Panoz’s St. Andrews Bay Resort), but he is most closely identified with Chateau Elan. He even has a house on the property.