Winemaster Paul-Michel Bosc a French Winegrower came to Canada and started his family vineyard in 1978. The winery has 240 acres under cultivation in Niagara-on-the-Lake, claiming to be the first in Canada to plant a vineyard exclusively to vifis vinifera.
Chateau Des Charmes has a good web site*.
Madame Bosc plays an important role in the winery , as 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. His son Pierre-Jean also shares the duties as Winemaker. 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
WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY
To make wines in the French style by virtue of their heritage.
Their wines can be purchased throughout Canada, United Kingdom, Japan, Taiwan and Hawaii