Château Canon

The Cellars

Hidden treasures

This is definitely a “must see”, although not for those who are afraid of the dark, particularly at night time! With their Romanesque architecture, the cellars have housed our ancient vintages for over a century. Several dozens of stairs lead down into the depths of the earth and fade into the darkness.

Below the ground

Geological vaults

Under the main house and beneath the Château Canon vineyards lie the tunnels of the ancient quarries. In the 18th century, the region’s dignitaries sold the stone from beneath their homes in order to finance their viticultural revolution and construct their wineries.

Stalactites

A slow formation

In the past, one would sometimes see some nocturnal creatures in the tunnels of the former quarries late at night, although the humidity levels are enough to deter even the bravest from dancing until dawn! The passageways have now been walled up.

Longevity

Sweet dreams

At night, once all the employees have gone home to bed, the Château returns to the calm and quiet of bygone days. Some bottles have been resting in the same place in the cellars for over a century and a half.

Between the walls

Protected by high
stone ramparts

Early risers should not miss the panoramic views from Château Canon at sunrise. It’s well worth the visit…just for the breathtaking views of Saint-Emilion with its sea of vineyards and ancient stone walls.

The Château

Intimate

This is a time for poets. The château, both the emblem and the symbol of the domaine, holds a few secrets of its own. We know that the buccaneer Jacques Kanon settled here one fine day, although nobody knows his reason for leaving!

The village parcel

A vineyard in the heart
of Saint-Emilion village

No, it’s not just for the photo. That really is a horse you see ploughing the parcel in the middle of the village. Situated just next to the “Convent of the Cordeliers,” the walled rows of vines are inaccessible by tractor and harvested by hand, just as they always have been.

The Harvest

The apogee

At last! You’d think that we live for this moment… During these two weeks the house is full and the vat house and vineyards are buzzing with activity. It’s exhausting work yet also a joyous and happy time.

A view of Saint-Emilion

The mythical village

The view from Château Canon’s lounge will leave you breathless . Beyond the domaine’s courtyard, your gaze will fall upon the village of Saint-Emilion with its bronze-tinged contours in the warmth of a summer’s day.

Manual Work

A guarantee of high quality

At Château Canon, the wine making process starts in the vineyards. The work, carried out by hand, day after day, requires patience and craftsmanship. Our wine growers know everything there is to know about Double Guyot pruning, double-disbudding, removing unwanted shoots, leaf stripping and green harvesting. There is a great deal of hard work involved throughout the year and not just during the harvests.

Picking

Perfectly ripe grapes

At the end of summer, when harvest time comes, the rows of vines are inspected one by one, each day, by our team of wine growers. Some are picked the same day whereas others will wait until the next day or later. You have to give Nature time to finish her work.

Lunchtime

Food & Wine pairing

The Chef has been cooking away in the kitchen and devising menus to complement the domaine’s wines and vintages. A true art-form.

The gardeners

Given special attention by the gardeners, the vegetable garden is a constant source of inspiration in the kitchen. A colourful and tasty harvest, changing with the seasons.

The barrels

100% French oak

Our oaks barrels have undergone a very specific style of toasting, specifically requested by the cellar master in order to ensure that they do not impart any fresh oak or unwanted toasted aromas. The barrels allow the fruit to express its natural aromas and give the finished wine a complex aromatic profile.

Selective sorting

Carried out by hand

The harvest involves a successive sorting process with specially designed tables where expert hands separate the best fruit from the rest. Not long after they are harvested by hand, the grapes are gently transferred onto the sorting tables. Our lady winery workers manually remove the grapes that will not make it into the final blend. This demanding selection process guarantees the high quality of the fruit and is an essential stage in the production of a 1er Grand Cru Classé.

Vinification

Respecting the fruit

When the harvest is brought in, the first step in the vinification process is running off the juices. Only the ripest grapes make it into the vats. The domaine’s facilities are equipped with a gravity system which allows the fruit full expression during the fermentation process.

Green thumbs

A discreet charm

Behind the 18th century building there is a charming cottage garden, beautifully laid out around a stone pond, under two majestic holm oak trees. The herbs used in the kitchen require continuous care and attention.

Dispatch

The Departure

We must wait for two years after the harvest in order for the finished wine to leave the cellars. It is really bottled at the château, this isn’t just an empty statement on the label.

Encounters

Tasting

The last visit inevitably ends with an early evening tasting. We are rather proud of our bicycles which we use to ride through the rows of vines, in keeping with the domaine’s relaxed, chic style.

Dinner

A sense of place

The fire is crackling in the hearth. The great library is lit up. The Chef is hard at work in the kitchen. The table is being set. The crystal and silver are being laid out for the guests, in an atmosphere which is a blend of pure luxury and warm simplicity.

Respect for nature

A renaissance
every 8 months

The vine cycle takes a long time. Many long months during which the vine regenerates. Yet we must not assume that nature does everything well by itself. Our team of winemakers use sustainable practices in order to support the vine through the growing cycle.

In the Vat-house

Stainless steel

When everyone else is asleep at Château Canon, nature carries on working through the night. Our outstanding quality grapes are transformed into a fine wine in the vat-house, as if by magic…

Aging room

Dedicated to
the second wine

This former chapel, which has been turned into a barrel warehouse, is steeped in history and now used by Château Canon to age its second wine. It is aged in oak barrels for 18 months before being bottled. The new oak barrels contain the current vintage.

Family time

A magical atmosphere

In the beautiful interiors of the château, surrounded by the sound of laughter, we feel as if we have been taken back to the times of Jacques Kanon, when his home resonated with the great voices of the era. The perfect opportunity to taste old vintages together from our cellars. So will it be 1955, 1982 or 2001 this evening?