Hunter Valley spoils at Château Elan
Sitting on the balcony of our private villa watching the sun set behind the rolling hills while sampling an array of local cheeses, cured meats and fresh baguette. Paired with an aromatic and lively bottle of Savagnin, it’s the perfect spring day at Château Elan.
If it wasn’t for the mob of 20 Kangaroos grazing just meters away you’d be forgiven for thinking you were in the South of France and not 2 hours drive from Sydney’s CBD. Set in the heart of the Hunter Valley, Château Elan is one of the regions most sort after wedding destinations and it’s not hard to see why.
Set amongst towering gum trees the original sandstone chapel known as the Carriage House has been meticulously restored offering couples the amenities of today with all the charm and romance of yesteryear. For couples dreaming of an outdoor wedding, The Fairway Rotunda on the manicured lawns of the Vintage Green offers picturesque views across the golf course and beyond.
Château Elan offers couples an extensive variety of venues to host the most intimate of receptions to the grand Barrington Room overlooking the 18th green where you can also erect a marquee under the stars.
Spacious spa suites and private villas all with balconies or terraces welcome guests with view across the magnificent Hunter Valley region.
The opulent spa features seventeen private treatment rooms offering a range of luxurious treatments. Two outdoor jacuzzis along with a relaxation area over looking the mountain range is the perfect destination to sip a glass of champagne with your newlywed or host a hens/bucks afternoon.
The dedicated onsite wedding team and coordinator will ensure couples enjoy a stress free and memorable wedding.
Of course no trip to the Hunter region would be complete without visiting a winery or two, so why not gather your wedding party for a celebratory afternoon and indulge in some of the regions best.
Our wine stops included:
Tamburlaine Wines
One of my personal favorites is Tamburlaine Wines, established in 1966, the Hunter winery was then purchased by a small group of friends and relatives led by Managing Director and Chief Winemaker, Mark Davidson in 1985. Mark has built his long-term winemaking philosophy around Contemporary Organic practices in the vineyard and the winery. After challenging years of research and development, Tamburlaine Wines have become one of Australia’s largest producers of organic wines with vineyards in the Hunter Valley and Orange region.
I highly recommend booking a “Behind the Scenes” guided tour of this exceptional winery for an in-depth look at what it takes be a certified organic winery, and the plans Mark has for its future.Your tour ends with a structured wine tasting and complementary cheese platter. Be sure to pick up a jar or two of the winery’s organic olives from the cellar door with the wine order you’ll most definitely be placing.
Glandore Estate Wines
With majestic view of the Brokenback Mountain range, this newly renovated cellar door is the perfect place to end your afternoon and indulge your tastebuds with a wine and chocolate tasting.
You’ll taste six handcrafted wines each matched with a chocolate truffle by Newtown chocolate company Adora. What may sound like an unlikely pairing it’s a delicious experience you’ll be glad you booked.
For booking for more information visit https://chateauelan.com.au/
Story by Joshua Heath
