Closing one door and opening another can tug on your heartstrings, and that’s certainly the case for winemaker Amélie Boury. After 15 years at the helm of award-winning winemaking and innovation at Château des Charmes, Boury is packing up cherished memories and moving on. She’s returning to France, where she is from, for an exciting new opportunity there. She leaves Niagara-on-the-Lake this Thursday. Boury came to Niagara when Paul Bosc Sr. hired her to work as a winemaker at Château des Charmes. He was looking for a successor, and Amélie was perfect. She had studied in France, as Paul Sr. had, and they shared a passion for viticulture as well as winemaking. The two bonded over grapevines in the vineyard, and wine barrels in the cellar. Paul Sr. became her close mentor. Boury moved quickly into the role of head winemaker, and in 2020 became responsible for the vineyards as well as the winemaking. Boury is proud of introducing more traditional method sparkling wines during her tenure, including her Blanc de Blancs, and Blanc de Noirs. One wine in particular holds a special place in her heart. Equuleus is an ultra-premium Bordeaux-style blend. It’s only made in years where the harvest conditions produce exceptional red grapes. Boury made Equuleus with Paul Sr. in 2012 and 2014. “I made it on my own in 2016, and I was really hoping he would like it. He was so happy when he tasted it,” she recalled with a fond smile. Paul Sr. is the stuff of legend in the Niagara wine industry. He was the first person to plant vinifera grapes on a commercial scale despite experts’ conviction they couldn’t survive winters here. He introduced wind machines to the industry, and they became game-changers for growers, preventing damage when the temperatures did drop too low. He could be gruff, but when he met someone who was serious about viticulture and oenology, he had all the time in the world for them. “I will always treasure my memories with Paul Sr. He was a mentor, a friend, and simply a grand gentleman,” said Boury. Paul Sr. passed away in December 2023. The winery was sold the following spring, to investors in southwestern Ontario. Marco Piccoli and Anne Givens took over leadership at the winery. Both had previously had long careers with Arterra. They pledged to honour the legacy of Paul Sr., while moving the winery forward. Over time, traces of Paul Sr. disappeared from public spaces at the winery. For Boury, it never felt the same after he was gone, so when an exciting opportunity arose in France, it was the right time to transition. Marco Piccoli, CEO at Château des Charmes, said, “Amélie has a strong legacy as an instrumental contributor not just to Château des Charmes, but the industry overall. She leaves big shoes to fill.” Piccoli said assistant winemaker Jake Achorn will be promoted to winemaker, and Piccoli himself will take a more hands-on role with winemaking. Boury will start her own consulting company in France, to take over PY Bubbles from highly regarded consulting winemaker Pierre-Yves Bournerias. He is looking to retire in a year, and has invited Boury to take over his practice. They’ll work together for the first year, before she flies solo. It’s quite like her experience with Paul Sr., who at first mentored her, then handed over the reins. For Boury, “It’s a big opportunity. It takes my winemaking career in a new direction. My experience with cool climate winemaking and viticulture, and with many different grape varieties will be a big advantage.” “It’s a perfect fit for Amélie, with her expertise in many styles of wine,” said Belinda Kemp. She was senior scientist at Brock University’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute when she and Boury met, and became friends. “Amélie has a research background and she was an avid supporter of wine research at CCOVI.” Amélie’s spouse, Cassandra Weidhaas, has a new opportunity as well. She’s an industrial mechanic, and will be working for Perrier Bottling Machines. Boury has been a valued member of the wine community in Niagara. “She’s been a great advocate for the industry. She’s always been very visible, and a great promoter. She will be sorely missed.” said Craig McDonald, a longtime winemaker at Trius, and now an executive at Andrew Peller Ltd. “I’ve always respected her for her ability to be the head winemaker, but she’s also hands on from viticulture right through to final packaging. I always respect those kinds of winemakers because they’re extremely well-rounded and see it from start to finish.” “Amélie has just an incredible amount of energy, and I think that comes through in her wines,” he added. “They are very fresh, with some old world complexity. I have a lot of respect for her, as a true winemaker, doing everything” Peter Gamble, a consulting winemaker in high demand, said, “Amélie has been a tremendous boost to the industry, always out at events. She is a highly skilled professional, and a valued colleague, always ready to help others.” Much as Boury looks ahead to an exciting new chapter, it’s still hard to say goodbye. She is very close to her crew of workers from Mexico, and says “it’s the hardest thing for me, to leave them.”