The story of Château des Charmes
begins over five generations ago with a family that traces
its roots to the Alsace region of France and the vineyards
of French Algeria. Thousands of kilometers from its present
day vineyards, Canada's outstanding winery, Château
des Charmes, traces its beginnings.
In these foreign lands, the ancestors of
Paul Bosc began
a heritage of fine winemaking that would serve the Bosc family
for generations to come. This tradition of excellence continues
today in the vineyards of Niagara-on-the-Lake where Paul Bosc
and his family carry on this rich heritage of meticulous vinification
by harmonizing science and art.
A graduate of one of Europe's finest winemaking
schools, the University of Burgundy at Dijon, Paul Bosc came
to Canada from France in the 1960's. He brought the Old World
tradition of winemaking to his new home and he grafted that
knowledge and tradition to the soils of Niagara.
After studying the Niagara Peninsula for
fifteen years, Paul Bosc concluded that the soil and climate
of the area were ideal for fine wine production. Niagara's
temperate microclimate provides 180-190 frost free growing
days a year. Château des Charmes' vineyards are ideally
positioned south of Lake Ontario and north of the Niagara
Escarpment at 44 degrees latitude, allowing superb growing
conditions. In fact, the Niagara Peninsula is further south
than France's famous Burgundy region where Paul Bosc was educated
and trained.
Since 1978, guided by great vision,
passion and five generations of winegrowing experience, Paul
has been committed to developing the best possible vineyard
sites in order to produce wines that have become recognized
as benchmarks in the Ontario wine industry.
Renowned British wine writer Hugh
Johnson in his book Wine Companion has written:
"Canada was discovered, in fine wine terms, in the 1970's
when old fears and prejudices about which vines could survive
were tossed aside. The formidable know-how that had been accumulating
in new wine districts around the world provided answers to
problems that had seemed insuperable. Paul Bosc became the
first to plant a wholly vinifera vineyard. Award winning VQA
estate wines include Icewine, late harvest riesling, an impressive
range of both white and red varietals as well as méthode
traditionnelle sparkling wines."
Paul is joined by his wife Andrée, his son, Paul-André and his wife Michèle who represent the sixth generation of winegrowing expertise. The Bosc family produces their award winning wines in a magnificently designed Château that is the jewel of the Niagara countryside. It alone speaks to the Boscs' determination to maintaining their winegrowing heritage.
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