History & Origins

A Chapel and its Canals…

Château Canadel is really a small village of historic houses, built around a chapel and ancient water canals that date back to the 13th century. These canals gave the estate its name: “Canal d’eau” became “Canadeau”, and finally “Canadel”. After phylloxera, the property’s vineyards were planted with cuttings of mourvèdre, along with cinsault and grenache, from historic local estates, chosen for their quality and clonal diversity. Throughout the 20th century, the estate’s grapes were sold to Domaines Ott.

In 2007, Jacques and Caroline de Chateauvieux purchased the property after returning from the island of Réunion. They began the revitalization of the old château, and in 2009, the winery passed into the hands of their daughter Laure and son-in-law Vianney, who had just come off a four-year stint making wine at Domaine Tempier. There, Vianney learned the art of making soulful, cinematic red wines befitting of the Bandol appellation. After 5 years of hard work in the vineyards, Laure and Vianney made their first vintage in 2014. Over a decade later, those first wines still show incredible depth, vivacity, and terroir expression.