Château Canon Winery Guide

EXPLORE ALL OUR RECOMMENDED FRENCH WINERIES

Last updated: November 24, 2023

Winery Overview

This large and imposing historic estate lies close to the captivating village of Saint-Emilion – a definite highlight of any wine-tasting trip in Bordeaux. It owes its name to an eighteenth-century owner, Jacques Kanon, who purchased the Château in 1760. Jacques lovingly restored the property before selling it to a local merchant, Raymond Fontemoing, in 1770. In 1919, it came into the Fournier family’s hands, who raised the bar again and achieved an excellent reputation for their wines. Sadly, family problems and not a little intrigue forced them to sell the property, which was brought in 1996 by the Wertheimer family of New York – who incidentally also control the Chanel group.

By this time, the property was in a sorry state and needed a major overhaul. However, the Wertheimer secured the Château for an amazingly low price; a major investment was required to return the estate to its former glory. They faced subsidence within the quarries beneath the property, TCA contamination within the winery, and a dilapidated cellar! Not to mention that many of the vines had been infected with a virus and needed to be replanted. The man chosen for this formidable job was John Kolasa, who was already running Rauzan Segla in Margaux. He worked tirelessly to restore the property, ripping out old equipment and vines enthusiastically if they were not up to scratch. The Château used to have some Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards, but Kolasa felt they were not good enough to be used in the wine-making and ripped them out.

Château Canon has benefited enormously from his ruthless and dedicated approach and has literally been brought back from near death. Today, the visitor would scarcely believe this gorgeous property was in such a bad state 20 years ago. The winery is polished, and the Château is completely revamped. So too, are the wines, which offer sumptuous black fruits, rich, concentrated flavors, and great power. Château Canon, once written off by wine ‘experts,’ is considered one of the finest wines in the St Emilion region today. We offer a unique experience at Canon with walks through private vineyards starting in medieval St Emilion and ending with a VIP tour and tasting at the estate.