What a beautiful story we are currently living with Quebec wines – those who have discovered them are under the charm. A recent article in La Presse gave a good portrait of the situation: it is currently impossible for Quebec winemakers to respond to the growing demand! Click to read the article: PRODUCTION DE VINS QUÉBÉCOIS - IMPOSSIBLE DE RÉPONDRE À LA DEMANDE
I attended the Fête des vendanges in beautiful Magog-Orford in the Eastern Townships on opening day August 31. This annual event typically runs on the first two weekends of September, opening Labour Day weekend. This is your chance to meet winemakers, cider makers and other food producing artisans from Quebec.
Have you heard of Frontenac? No, not Louis de Buade, Comte de Frontenac, the French soldier and Governor General of New France. No, not the Fairmont Château Frontenac hotel in Quebec City. I am talking about Frontenac, the grape variety typical in Quebec wines. It makes a beautiful deep red wine with character, which I enjoyed discovering at the Fête des vendanges.
It was a day of great discoveries for me. My top three favourite red wines (“coups de coeur”) were:
- Honorable from Domaine du Ridge in Saint-Armand
- Le Chat Botté Rouge 2017 from Le Chat Botté Winery in Hemmingford
- Cinquante 2017 from Les Vignes des Bacchantes in Hemmingford
And I finished my visit at the 2019 Fête des vendanges with a glass of my favourite wine from Quebec: the Chardonnay La Plage from Coteau Rougemont.
Already looking forward to the 2020 Fête des vendanges!
What is your favourite wine from Quebec?