Monday, November 17, 2008

Mike Weir Wine announces new partnership with niagara's Château des Charmes

Mike Weir Wine also unveils details of new location in Conjunction with Niagara Parks Commission

Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON - Canadian PGA TOUR star Mike Weir was in Niagara today to unveil plans for the future of the award-winning Mike Weir Wine, which includes a new production partnership with Canadian wine-industry leader Château des Charmes and an innovative affiliation with the Niagara Parks Commission.

Weir announced that all Mike Weir Wines will now be made in conjunction with Château des Charmes of Niagara-on-the-Lake, the winery that planted Niagara's first commercial vinifera vineyard 30 years ago and has the distinction of being one of the most highly decorated wineries in Canadian history.

"Our goals for the future of the Mike Weir Wines were to continually build on the quality of the wine, grow our production, and maintain the winery's strong ties to Niagara," said Weir. "Partnering with Château des Charmes helps us achieve all three with their state-of-the-art facilities, a six-generation wine background and unprecedented premium grape supply. I'm very excited about the success that the Mike Weir Wines have enjoyed in its first three years and I am thrilled about the opportunity to partner with a true leader in the Canadian wine industry."

At the same time, Weir announced an innovative conceptual agreement with the Niagara Parks Commission to locate the home of Mike Weir Wines on a 15-acre parcel of land on the famed Niagara Parkway, adjacent to the Whirlpool Golf Course.

The partnership with Niagara Parks will see the construction of Mike Weir Winery, winery retail and hospitality centre, food and beverage components, the planting of grapes and on-site processing, and a Mike Weir gallery. The concept combines the marketing power and golf tradition of the Niagara Parks with the burgeoning Niagara Wine Industry, all along the storied Niagara Parkway and all linked through golf, VQA wine and Mike Weir.

"Sports fans consider Mike a Canadian national treasure, and in just three short years, wine enthusiasts have helped Mike Weir Wines reach a similar status," said Barry Katzman, president of Mike Weir Wine Ltd. "Considering Mike and his family's passion for golf, wine and the Niagara region, I think it's very fitting that we're able to combine all three with this exciting project with Château des Charmes, the Niagara Parks Commission and the Whirlpool Golf Course, adding what will be an exciting new fixture in an already popular tourist corridor."

Mike Weir Wines were launched in April, 2005 with 5,000 cases and have grown to the point where it is now available in every province across the country and sells more than 30,000 cases annually. Net proceeds from the sales of Weir Wines will continue to support the Mike Weir Foundation, which assists the physical, emotional and educational welfare of children in Canada. Please visit www.themikeweirfoundation.com for more information.

Owned and operated by Paul Bosc and his family, the award-winning Château des Charmes represents six generations of excellence in the wine industry and traces its roots to the Alsace region of France. The Boscs have made wine on three continents going back approximately 170 years. Since 1978, Paul and his family have been committed to developing the best possible vineyard sites in Niagara in order to produce wines that have become recognized as benchmarks in the Canadian wine industry. "It is true that we have accomplished a lot here at Château des Charmes over the last 30 years and along the way we have earned a reputation for innovation. That is why we could not pass up this incredible, once in a lifetime opportunity to work with a great Canadian; Mike Weir and his family. Together we will produce distinctive wines of the highest quality."

-- Paul-André Bosc, Château des Charmes

Niagara Parks Chairman Jim Williams confirmed "this exciting and innovative project will accelerate our organization's primary role as a Provincial tourism agency dedicated to the promotion of Niagara and Ontario as a premier tourist destination."

The Niagara Parks Commission has controlled and developed the Niagara Parkway corridor and the lands surrounding Niagara Falls for over 100 years. They currently operate numerous attractions, 11 licensed food and beverage facilitates and own the 70 year old Whirlpool Golf Course and Legends on the Niagara Golf Facility.