Chateau Elan's culinary studio, which opened last August adjacent to the wine market, is set up like a dream kitchen, with Viking appliances, including two refrigerators, a six-burner cooktop, gas range, eight-burner rangetop, electric double oven and gas grill.

The demonstration, which costs $20 a person and is held at 3 p.m. Saturdays, is up-close and personal. The weekly event also joins cooking classes and special chef and winemaker dinners the resort offers.

Winery wanderings

The winery tours, which run Monday-Saturday, culminate with a tasting of five wines. Before that treat, a short walk from the wine market takes you into a room with massive stainless steel tanks and other equipment and then into a room with a view of the bottling process.

Dining and shopping

Seven restaurants offer plenty of options for dining on-site. Cafe Elan and Le Clos are located inside the chateau. Adjacent is Paddy's Irish Pub, which was built in Dublin and transported here in 1997. Other options include the buffet and a la carte menus at Versailles and sports bar atmosphere at L'Auberge, both in the Chateau Elan inn, healthy spa fare at Fleur de Lis and the Golf Clubhouse Grille. The focus of Chateau Elan's wine market is its selection of wine, obviously, plus wine racks, gourmet food, dishes and other gift items for adults and kids.

A slew of antiques stores are open in Braselton and Hoschton, just a few miles north of Chateau Elan. Travel I-85 to exit 129 and turn right to check out the collectibles and other items at the sprawling Braselton Antique Mall (5134 Ga. 53, 706-654-3693, www.braseltonantiquemall.com) and other shops along Ga. 53.

If you go

In addition to the culinary school and winery, Chateau Elan Winery & Resort has 63 holes of championship golf, the Stan Smith Tennis Center, an art gallery, seven restaurants and 322 rooms and suites at its Inn at Chateau Elan and spa mansion, which has 14 themed guest suites such as the Gatsby Room and the Zimbabwe room. The winery is open from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. Inn rates range from $164-$259 per night plus tax; spa rooms range from $224-$299; packages available.

Getting there

Take I-85 north to Exit 126. Take a left, and Chateau Elan will be the first gate on your left. The winery address is 100 Tour De France, Braselton 30517.

Events at Chateau Elan

Culinary demonstration

> When: Saturdays at 3 p.m.

> Cost: $20 (tickets are first-come, first-serve)

> Info: 678-425-0900, www.chateauelan.com/Viking

Guided winery tours

> When: 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday-Friday; noon-5 p.m. Saturday; noon-4 p.m. Sunday

> Cost: $5 per person Monday-Friday, Sunday (includes five samples of wine); $10 per person or $18 per couple Saturday (includes five samples of wine and souvenir wine glass)

> Info: 678-425-0900, www.chateauelan.com/winery

Groove with the Grapes Summer Concert Series

> When: 8:30-11:30 p.m. Saturday (The Jesters), July 26 (The Tams —- aka Joe Pope Tams), Aug. 2 (Holiday Band), Aug. 9 (The Embers), Aug. 31 (Swingin' Medallions)

> Where: Winery pavilion

> Cost: $30

> Info: 678-425-0900, www.chateauelan.com

Vineyard Fest 2008

> When: Noon-5 p.m. Aug. 24

> Cost: $75 (includes wine, food, entertainment)

> Info: 678-425-0900, www.chateauelan.com