About the Muscadine Grape

Often called “America’s First Grape,” muscadine grapes thrive in hot climates of the southeastern United States. This unique environment makes them special in their ability to heal themselves from disease, bacteria, and fungi that often plague European grapes.

Many nutritionists have found muscadine grapes are loaded with more healthy compounds than other much-touted foods such as blueberries, goji berries, green tea, red wine, and dark chocolate. Muscadine grapes and their seeds are one of nature’s best sources of antioxidants and possess anti-inflammatory properties. Compared to other grapes, muscadine grapes have 40 times more resveratrol — the polyphenol found in red wine that is proven to benefit cardiovascular health, blood sugar levels and the aging process.

Muscadry: The color is an intense straw yellow. The flavors are tropical, with a mix of guava, lemon zest, pineapple and grapefruit. It has an off dry nature, vibrant almost salty and the after taste tells you about the short 2 months aging in new French oak. 12.5% Alcohol.

Muscadry Rose: Bright and clear flavors, it has a light pink color with orange nuances. The perfume clearly speaks about ripe strawberries with a late spicy ginger note. On the palate it is medium dry, smooth, refreshing and very high drinkability. 12.5% in alcohol, 1.6% residual sugar and comes from the blend of the varieties Noble and Carlos.

Muscadry Rouge: Our first edition of MUSCADRY ROUGE has a deep and intense ruby red. It delivers strong aromas of spirit macerated cherries with notes of crust bread and rhubarb. It is dry with a nice smooth texture, a vibrant finish and a very clean aftertaste. It has 13.2% in alcohol, 0.5% residual sugar, and comes from 87% Estate Noble grapes and 13% Syrah grapes from our vineyards in Yuba (CA). It has been aged in new French oak for 5 months.

Duncan Creek: This light wine is from 100% Georgia Muscadine grapes. Sweet and crisp, it is the classic Georgia Muscadine wine., 12.5% Alcohol, 6% Residual Sugar.

Duncan Creek Red: Made from 100% Georgia-grown Muscadines, specifically the red variety known as Noble. It is a sweet wine in a classic southern style and is as vibrant red as it is crisp and refreshing. 12.5% Alcohol, 6% Residual Sugar.

Summer Wine: Same great profile of our classic Muscadine wine but with clean and clear peach nectar essences. 12.5% Alcohol, 6% Residual Sugar.

Spring Blossom: This rose wine made from Muscadine grapes poses a unique flavor of strawberry and a nice clean taste.12.5% Alcohol, 6% Residual Sugar.

Autumn Blush: This wine has a light red color, with a sweet raspberry taste and a crisp and vibrant finish. 12.5% Alcohol, 6% Residual Sugar.

Super Premium “Fingerprint” Edition Wines

Nancy: Nancy is the newest addition to the Fingerprint collection and the very first super premium white wine of the series. Planning began over 3 years ago but only the 2016 harvest offered the chance of reaching the level of quality and style of this vintage which has been dedicated and named after Chateau Elan founder Dr. Nancy Panoz.

It is a blend of 4 varieties, 42% Viognier, 24% Trebbiano, 23% Albarino and 11% Chardonnay. The grapes were harvested from the 19th of August to the 20th of September 2016.  The single varieties have been fermented separately and blended just prior the bottling. No malolactic fementation, and only 5% was aged in new French oak barrels, the remainder matured in stainless steel tanks. It has zero residual sugars and 13.8% alcohol. Color is a nice middle tone gold with green nuances.  On the nose it shows a mix of citrus fragrances with sweet hawthorn and jasmine notes. Light notes of bread and ginger are present as well. After tasting, a light tannin structure coming from the viognier and trebbiano grapes follows. It has a great entrance, a smooth middle palate and a spiky-vivid acidity.  A persistent saltines is the last memory the wine leaves you with.

Nancy is the most elegant wine yet created by Executive Winemaker Simone Bergese whose passion and pride you can now enjoy while still available as part of the limited Fingerprint edition wines of Chateau Elan.

El Tempranillo: This wine is reminiscent of a perfectly executed harmony. It is crafted from 100% Tempranillo grapes grown in Lake County, making it strong, elegant and very balanced. Black garnet color with bright attractive aromas of mocha latte, toasted coconut and blueberry pie with a supple, vibrant full body. It finishes with coating woody tannins and moderate oak.

Les Petits: An even blend of  Petit Verdot and Petit Syrah grown in Paso Robles, this opulent wine is strong, deep and very rich. It is intense and highly structured, delivering layers of nuances from dark raisin to bread and spicy berry tart. Textured mouth feeling with a smooth intense feisty finish. It is only for true lovers of bold red wines.

Chardonnay Reserve: As per tradition Chateau Elan Chardonnay has a heavy gold color which is the anticipation of the full body taste profile you are going to experience. The bouquet is creamy and buttery even without passing through malolactic fermentation with notes of nougat, dolce vanilla and orange flavors. On the palate the wine is thicker than expected, smooth with subtle notes of lightly toasted hazelnuts and a very nice soft acidity.  The grapes of this chardonnay have been harvested in Kelseyville (CA), 20% on the 8th of September and 80% on the 21st of September. The entire volume aged in new French oak barrels for 6 months. It has zero residual sugar and a 13.8% alcohol level.

Pinot Grigio: Our Pinot Grigio differs from the typical light bodied grigios you might be used to. The color is yellow with very light copper reflections. The bouquet shows notes of nectarine, peach and sweet pineapple. It tastes mineral with a medium body, a nice acidity and a sustained alcohol. The finish is clean and it is all about saltiness. The grapes were harvested on the 24th of August in the Woodland vineyards and it aged in stainless steel until the bottling day. It has 13.5% of alcohol and zero sugars.

Sauvignon Blanc Reserve: Bright light medium emerald straw color. Fruity aromas of tutti frutti, bubble gum dust, and lemon salt water taffy with a supple, crisp, dry medium body. Classic vibrant and refreshing with medium depth. Grapes grown in Lake County, CA. 13.5% Alcohol.

Belle Reserve 2015: A blend of 60% Viognier and 40% Moscato di Canelli.  In the glass it shows a deep yellow with gold nuances. On the nose it is clearly Viognier as it opens up with peach and melon fragrances followed by some floral notes coming from the moscato grapes. The sustained alcohol content (14.3%) makes this white wine full bodied, intense, warm and oily, with a deep aftertaste and a big volume.  The Viognier grapes have been harvested in our Yuba vineyards on the 25th of August at the same time when the Moscato di Canelli was harvested in Kelseyville. Both wines aged apart in stainless steel tanks for 6 months and blended together prior bottling. This wine has no residual sugar.

Moscato D’Asti D.O.C.G: A true Italian wine made for us by our twin winery in Piedmont, Italy, and available only here at Château Élan. It is sweet and slightly sparkling with distinct notes of peach and orange blossoms, and perfectly tempered by the freshness of its refined bubbles that are accompanied by hints of elderberry and wisteria with a sweet white fruit finish.

Brut Reserve: It is a lively sparkling wine made in the charmat method.. 100% Chardonnay grapes, this is a fun, beautiful sparkling wine. It is slightly off-dry with beautiful flavors of lemon and green apple adorning the bouquet. Grapes grown in Lodi, CA. 12% Alcohol.

Rose Reserve: Our first edition of Chateau Elan Rose Reserve has a very elegant light salmon pink. Bright citrus flavors with delicate fragrant raspberry notes. This rose is dry as a traditional rose from the Provence region in France; smooth, mineral and salty it ends with a lovely buttery crust bread aftertaste. Predominantly from Zinfandel grapes grown in Davis and harvested on the 4^th of September 2015, the wine aged in stainless steel tank for 6 months. Zero residual sugar and 13.5% in Alcohol.

Dolce Rosso: From the extremely rare Brachetto grape variety, this wine is made exclusively for Château Élan by our twin winery in the Piedmont region of Italy. Aromas of fresh roses greet the nose as a delicate sweetness meets the palate. Made in the frizzante style, this slightly sparkling sweet wine is sure to not disappoint from start to finish.

Pinot Noir Reserve: Fruity, earthy and elegant our Pinot Noir also exhibits fruit characteristics only displayed in the finest Pinot Noir grapes. After a seven month aging in brand new French oak barrels, this vibrant, powerful Pinot is sure to please even the most discerning palates with an unexpected depth and smoothness. Grapes grown in Yuba, CA. 13.5% Alcohol, 0.1% Residual Sugar.

Merlot Reserve 2015: A deep intense red color with some dark orange accents. It has spicy and peppery flavors with dust notes and some persistent fragrances of sweet vanilla in conjunction with a light pomegranate background. The palate is extremely textured with a smooth yet persistent tannin structure. The after taste is long, elegant and classic of this variety. This wine is made from 4 French clones of Merlot grown in 2 different vineyards in Davis and Yuba, California.  Harvested together on the 28^th of August 2015, the wine aged for a little over 5 months in French oak barrels. It has been bottled without any filtration nor addition of fining agents.

Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes grown in Yuba and Livermore Valley. It aged for 10 months in new French oak, unfined and unfiltered it has an opaque violet color. Creamy, fruity aromas of black raspberry buttercream, praline, and delicate herbs and spices with an oily, lively, dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body and a warming, subtle, medium-long cassis, honey, nuts, and earth finish with dusty coating tannins and moderate elegant oak. A zesty, flavor-packed cabernet that is sure to please the most exigent palates.

Velvet Reserve: Velvet Reserve 2015 has a vivid ruby color and comes from the blend of Zinfandel and Barbera grapes grown in our Davis vineyards. It is a slightly-oaked fruit bomb with lots of cassis and strawberry flavors, somehow reminiscent of the Beaujolais  wines. It balances power (15% alcohol) and smoothness with a round palate and soft tannins. It is the classic food-friendly wine that can pair with mild and flavorful foods. It has been bottled after only 4 months from the harvest in order to enhance the young and fresh character of the grapes.

Scarlet Reserve: This 2015 vintage is a completely new blend of Montepulciano and Petit Verdot grapes harvested in Lake County and Paso Robles California.  A full bodied fruity profile of watermelon, sweet spices and cedar that drinks like a ripe Italian Red.  The aroma hints at buttery nut brittle, dark chocolate, creme brulee, and berry jam on toast.  Enjoy now or up to 3 years on its own or paired with dishes like lasagna or braised oxtail ravioli.

American Port Riserva: Our Ruby Port balances the high residual sugar with a high acidity level that works superbly with the high alcohol content. It is deep ruby red, with some intense notes of macerated fruit, coconuts and toasted vanilla with a full body. You can enjoy it now as well as in 20 years from now. Grapes grown in Paso Robles, CA. 18.5% Alcohol, 8% Residual Sugar.

As always per our tradition, our Chardonnay Reserve is an heavy weight – full bodied white wine. The color is gold with some light green nuances. At the nose it opens up with a strong peach jam bouquet followed by a light gardenia flavors and a sweet vanilla background. It is intense on the palate, smooth and coating with a sustained acidity and a clean finish. The after taste is long and extremely persistent. The grapes were harvested on the 17^th of September in Lake County CA, 60% aged in new French oak barrels, 40% in stainless steel. It has zero sugar and 15% of alcohol. This wine didn’t go through malolactic fermentation.