Charron Vineyards History
Charron Vineyards Genesis
Charron Vineyards was established in 1994 by Leo Cox, a retired electrical engineer. Leo was transferred to Spain for work, and while there, discovered his passion for wine. The winery’s name came from the maiden name of Leo’s wife, and translates to “Wheelwright” in French. The first 450 vines, consisting of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, were planted in 1995, and the first wine made it to bottle in 1999. In 2009, at 83 years of age, Leo sold the winery to Milton and Susan Craig.
Craig's Build Success
Susan and Milton Craig purchased the Vineyard from Leo in 2009. The Craig’s transitioned from their corporate IT jobs to pursue their passion: great wine. The Craig’s took Charron Vineyards to the next level by planting new vines, adding wines to the menu, and integrating themselves into the Vail community. A brand new tasting room was added in 2017 to help accommodate the demand for its wines. In 2019, after a battle with cancer, Milton passed. Susan continued to lead Charron Vineyards until 2021 when she decided it was time to hand over the reigns to the next generation of wine makers.
Passing of the Torch
In 2021, local Vail residents Colton Noble, Sarah Wolff, and young daughter Eleanor accepted Susan’s challenge to continue the Charron Vineyards tradition, and have since taken over ownership of the operation. The “Noble-Wolff” pack recognizes the history, hard work, and contributions of Leo, Susan, and Milt, and intend to honor them by continuing their tradition of great wine, friendly service, and great atmosphere. The Noble-Wolffs hope you get the opportunity to come and visit and become part of the Charron Vineyards Family.