For many the idea that a countryside covered in snow for three months of the year can create great wine is totally impossible. Yet it’s true, Québec makes great wine!
The atmospheric conditions mean that different grape varieties have to be used to produce wine than would be employed in the major regions of France or even the US. It’s these different varieties that give Québec wine a novel and different taste. The vintners have to be innovative in making the best from the grapes which leads to a lot of innovation in the taste of the wine.
Many of the whites are quite sweet, especially those from the Vidal grape variety, but not so sweet as you wouldn’t use them to accompany a light summer meal. Other grapes are dry endowing the vintners with a good range of tastes to produce his wine.
There is a limited availability of Québec wine at the SAQ. However it’s much more fun to go to the vineyards for a tasting. The “Route des Vins” in the Eastern Townships is a great place to get started and you can combine a visit to the vineyard with a visit to a traditional village such as Knowlton / Lac Brome or Cowansville. The Eastern Townships (Cantons de l’Est) are situated to the south of Montréal, about 45 minutes away. Much of the wine output is also available at local restaurants, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for it.
Most vineyards offer a guided tour of the facilities and a free tasting. Wine prices range from around $15 to $45 a bottle.
The vineyard in the picture is the Domaine Les Brome near to Knowlton which offers a great range of wines: wine from dry to sweet and fruity reds, including those reminiscent of Italian and Californian wines. Their website is not in English, but they are very accommodating to English speakers.
Domaine Les Brome
285, chemin de Brome,
Ville de Lac-Brome (Québec)
J0E 1S0
Tel: +1 450.242.2665
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