Our Vineyards

This is where our wines are born.

We farm approximately 120 acres of vineyards all within Niagara-on-the-Lake. Our two vineyards are in the St. David’s Bench sub-appellation. All of our wines are grown in this sub-appellations and will carry the designation “St. David’s Bench” or the regional “Niagara-on-the-Lake”.

Dr. Tony Shaw, Professor of Geography at Brock University in St. Catharines, has extensively studied the Niagara Peninsula. He looked at climate and weather patterns, soil composition and topographical features. His work, together with the pioneering work of Prof. Simon Haynes and others, found there were distinct mini-regions or “sub-appellations” in Niagara. So distinct in fact that vines behave differently when planted in these different areas. To learn more about this research and Niagara’s sub-appellations click here.

St. David’s Bench

Where 1025 York Rd. (surrounding the château)
When Planting began in 1990. First harvest in 1994.
Size 72 acres/29 hectares
Soil Haldimand clay loam
Varieties Aligoté, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay Noir ‘Droit’, Gamay Noir, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Savagnin, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer
Wind Machines 9
Wines Signature flavour profile is a “feminine” mineralilty
Special Notes
  • Installed with the most extensive vineyard under-drainage system in the world in 1990
  • Home to our Grey Water Management and Recovery Program
  • Research vineyard first established here to examine the effects of high density planting and lyre canopy system grape quality. All grape varieties we grow are represented in these two blocks.
  • The slope of the vineyard is considered moderate – from the Niagara Escarpment at the southern edge to York Road at the northern edge
  • Underground water run off from the Escarpment is rich in limestone. These vines use this water during the growing season contributing to the minerality found in the wines grown here.
  • Dedicated to producing single varietal bottlings

Paul Bosc Estate Vineyard

Where 1020 York Road (across the street from the château)
When Planted in 1983 and 1984. First harvest in 1988.
Size 44 acres/18 hectares
Soil Smithville clay loam, small pocket Haldimand clay loam
Varieties Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc
Wind Machines 7
Wines Have a signature earthy, “masculine” flavour profile
Special Notes
  • Château des Charmes’ most awarded vineyard, a Paul Bosc Estate Vineyard Chardonnay was the first Canadian table wine to win a gold medal at VINEXPO
  • One of the very few vineyards in the region with southern-facing slopes

What We're Enjoying Now

Balance. Finesse. Structure. These are some of the words used to describe our wines. We would add food friendly and age worthy. We hope you call them delicious. Here are a few wines we are enjoying now.

  • Brut Sparkling (750 ML)

    $26.53
    Mèthode Traditionnelle | VQA — Niagara-on-the-Lake
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  • 2021 ‘Old Vines’ Riesling

    $16.79
    Estate Bottled | VQA — Niagara-on-the-Lake
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