Château Élan is a hilltop winery that replicates a 16th-century French estate surrounded by verdant countryside. Its first wines were produced in 1985, and already they have garnered more than 200 awards. Guided tours are given daily between 11am and 4pm (call ahead for hours).

On view are the crushing and pressing machines, oak barrels used to age and flavor wines, the cask room, and the bottling area. The tours conclude with a wine tasting. Grapes ripen in July/August, so if you're here during harvesting in August and September, you'll actually see the winemaking procedure. More than 300 tons of grapes are harvested and processed each year. The interior of the château, a stage-set version of a Paris street, has a quarry-stone floor, wrought-iron fences, and street lamps. The building houses an art gallery offering monthly exhibits by regional and national artists, displays of antique European winemaking equipment, and a wine market.

There are also three on-premises restaurants, so plan to eat lunch or dinner here. Café Élan, open daily from 11am to 10pm, features sandwiches, salads, and light entrees. It's a charming setting, with seating under a green awning. Paddy's Irish Pub, open Saturday at noon, Sunday at 12:30pm, and the rest of the week at 2pm (closing hours vary), serves traditional Irish fare and spirits. The fancier Le Clos, with pale pink walls, lace-curtained French doors, and tables covered with crisp white linen, is open for dinner only Wednesday through Saturday evenings, with seatings from 6:30 to 9:30pm. A seven- or eight-course prix-fixe meal beginning at $78 or $88 features haute-cuisine entrees; appropriate Château Élan wines with each course are included. Reservations are imperative. Men are required to wear a coat and tie.

There are also four restaurants at the adjoining Château Élan resort. And there are picnic areas on the lovely grounds; custom picnic baskets can be purchased here.

You might also consider an overnight or longer stay at the 274-room Inn at Château Élan, a luxurious resort where facilities include four golf courses (three 18-hole and one par-3, 9-hole) and seven tennis courts (both offering pro shops and instruction), a full-service European-style health spa and salon (days of pampering are an option), an outdoor Olympic-size pool, an indoor heated pool, and a fitness center. Room rates begin at $180 double; call the numbers below for details and to inquire about golf, tennis, spa, and other packages.