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.
“Paul-Andre [Bosc]” has his own ideas on terroir, which he presented at the 1999 seminar on “terroir” at Brock University. This included the first scientific evidence for the existence in the Niagara Peninsula of terroirs at the micro-level of a vineyard.”
– S.J. Haynes; Geology and Wine 2. Geoscience Canada. 200;27(2)65-87.
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
- “St. David’s Bench” coined by the Bosc family and sub-appellation is named based on this term
- 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
- Site of the Bosc family home and Paul Bosc Sr.’s Arabian horses. To our knowledge, the Paul Bosc Estate Vineyard is the only vineyard and working horse farm in the country
- Home to Paul Sr.’s pioneering research into new grape varieties
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
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Brut Sparkling (750 ML)
$29.95Mèthode Traditionnelle | VQA — Niagara-on-the-LakeSelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
2021 ‘Old Vines’ Riesling
$18.95Estate Bottled | VQA — Niagara-on-the-LakeSelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
