"
Making Wines is not what we do, it's who we are!"Château des Charmes was founded in 1978 by Paul Bosc, a fifth-generation French winegrower. Paul and his young family arrived in Niagara in the 1960’s with the idea that growing our own grapes was the best way to make fine wine.
Paul Bosc was born in Algeria under French rule. When Algeria was granted independence from France the new regime took everything. Paul and his wife Andree owned their home, their winery, their land, they came to Canada. Paul working for the liquor board in Quebec noticed a yeast problem with Château-Gia wine. He contacted the company spoke to the Vice-President who granted him an interview with Alexander Sampson who hired him. Paul helped develop Alpenweiss, a very successful product.
Paul Bosca winemaker at Château-Gai began experimenting with Viniferas in 1962. He was the man in the TV ads for Chateau Gai promoting Marcécal Foch. He would later leave to form his own winery based on Vinifera called Château des Charmes. He was given the Order of Canada in 2005 for his work in developing Canadian wines. He has also been the recipient of many honours including a doctorate from Brock University, The Order of Ontario, The Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals, the inaugural Canadian Vintners Association Award of Distinction and The Order of Canada; all for his significant contributions to the modern Canadian wine industry. In 2011 Paul was awarded the LCBO Special Recognition Award.
After Labatt's gained control of Château-Gai Paul decided it was time to start his own winery. He wanted control over growing the grapes and making the wine. He purchased an established vineyard (1976) but after one year he pulled everything out and started completely from scratch. The winery was named Château des Charmes here he continued to experiment and raise the bar in wine making.
Madame Bosc plays an important role in the winery, a teacher by profession, she devotes much of her attention to producing a highly educational and enjoyable winery tour. The Globe and Mail once commented that " Château des Charmes boasts one of the best tours any oenophile is ever likely to take, Napa Valley and Champagne districts included. Paul Bosc's winemaking style is Burgundian. Noted wines are Brut (V.Q.A.) Sparkling Wine and their Riesling Icewines.
The Bosc family is very proud of their reputation as pioneers and innovators. As Hugh Johnson pointed out, Château des Charmes was the first winery in Canada to plant a vineyard dedicated to "vitis vinifera"- the European grape species that produces the world's finest wines. These include Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Gamay Noir and Riesling. Back in 1978, this was a controversial innovation but it has become the standard for the modern Canadian wine industry. "Paul did much to convince the industry that the future lay in vinifera varieties and his early Rieslings and Chardonnays were models for other wineries," wrote wine author Tony Aspler in his book Vintage Canada.
The Order of Canada is the center piece of Canada's Honours System and recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. Paul Bosc Sr. was honoured in 2005. .
Paul Bosc Sr. was honoured with the Grape Growers of Ontario “Award of Merit” for 2017. The award was presented on behalf of his peers in recognition of the innovative contributions he has made to the grape and wine industry.
The winery (35 hectares) is located in St Davids, Ontario just outside of Niagara-on-the-Lake.
