Charlemagne built a fortress in the Fronsac region, overlooking the confluence of the Dordogne and the Isle, to survey the river traffic and the road leading to Bordeaux. Culminating at an altitude of 75 metres, it offers a magnificent view of Fronsac's rugged landscape. The wine production area is now slightly removed from the main thoroughfares, but has some beautiful churches and châteaux. Spread over six communes, which all have the right to the Fronsac appellation, the landscape is characterized its hilly terroir. Within the Fronsac AOC, two communes are entitled to the Canon-Fronsac appellation: Fronsac and Saint-Michel-de-Fronsac. The grape varieties planted in AOC Fronsac and Canon-Fronsac underwent a dramatic change in the 20th century. In 1900 the vines were mostly Malbec. Very sensitive to frost, this variety has now been largely replaced by Merlot. Château de Carles was built in the 15th century by the Carles family, which flourished between the 15th and 17th centuries. In the 17th century the château became popular with great thinkers and literary figures, and was frequented by writers such as Boétie, who was married to Marguerite de Carles, and Montaigne. In the 18th century, the property was acquired by Guillaume de Castaing who passed it on to his son, Antoine. His daughter Constance and her husband Stépahne Droulers have managed the château since 1983. The property is located in Saillans, on Fronsac's third hill, looking down over the vines, the Isle Valley and Libourne.

Keen to rival Bordeaux's finest wines, the Droulers created a new wine in 1994: Haut-Carles. It is produced from Château de Carles' best plots, harvested by hand and vinified in a brand new vat room that was installed in 2003, which operates entirely by gravity in order not to damage the grapes. Haut-Carles' is then aged in barrels for 18 to 24 months.