By MICHAEL BOYLAN
Weekend Editor

Georgia is not the first place that comes to mind when it comes to wine. People would consider the Napa Valley of California or the vineyards of France or Italy before even thinking about Georgia.

But Georgia is home to numerous fine wineries, and they are featured as Chateau Elan celebrates the wineries and vineyards of Georgia every year, offering an inexpensive day for people to enjoy.

There will be dozens of representatives of Georgia's many wineries and vineyards on hand at Chateau Elan Saturday for the winery and resort's third annual Vineyard Fest. The festival gives the public a chance to learn about grape growing, wine making and tasting during seminars throughout the day. Complimentary tours of Chateau Elan's own production areas and vineyards will run hourly.

For connoisseurs in the making, there will be tastings throughout the day at the fountain, as well as seminars every hour in the Bourdeaux Room. A grape stomping contest also will be conducted every half hour on the lawn. Create the most juice and your name will be entered in a drawing for an overnight stay at the Inn at Chateau Elan with breakfast for two.

Not everything at Vineyard Fest is about wine, though. During the day north Georgia musicians Greg Bridgewater, John Mayer, and the band Memory Dean will perform. It wouldn't be a festival without food, and A Taste of Chateau Elan will feature the resort's international chefs demonstarting their homeland culinary talents and competing for prizes.

Everything from Cajun jambalaya and Dutch hutspot to Italian tiramisu and Russian strawberries Romanoff will be included. Participants also can take complimentary tours of the Spa Pavilion at the resort or browse the Fine Arts Show.

A parking fee of $5 per car includes one commemorative tasting glass from Chateau Elan. Additional glasses are avalable for $3. Some activities also may require a small fee. Most of the seminars are $2, the food ranges from $1-$3, and the tasting requires only the tasting glass.

Chateau Elan is off exit 48 on Interstate 85. For information, call 770-932-0900 ext. 6301 or visit the web site at www.chateauelan.com.

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