Interviews

What does a meadow, a river or forest taste like? That’s a prickly question. One we boldly try to answer by exploring the province in the hopes of discovering Quebec’s taste profile, a bit like a large herbarium of flavours and aromas.

What does a meadow, a river or forest taste like? That’s a prickly question. One we boldly try to answer by exploring the province in the hopes of discovering Quebec’s taste profile, a bit like a large herbarium of flavours and aromas.

“The apple trees right behind me were planted by my great-grandfather 100 years ago,” said owner Justin Petch before biting into a Cortland apple he picked along our walk.

In Rimouski, in the Lower St. Lawrence, stands a new architectural building overlooking the St. Lawrence River that’s home to Distillerie du St. Laurent. It’s in this enchanting part of the Pointe-au-Père district, with its iconic lighthouse and spectacular sunsets, that Joël Pelletier and Jean-François Cloutier create and share their products.

Along the wine route in Dunham, in the Montérégie region, sits the magnificent building that houses the Château des Cartes winery. It’s where Stéphane Lamarre has spent many years pursuing his passion for vine-growing.

When you stroll through the streets of Bedford in the Eastern Townships, you quickly notice a huge red-brick building. A vestige of the industrial era, this old needle factory has become a creative hub and an artists’ residence, and it’s where Samuel Gaudette and Vanessa Cliche have set up their stills.

What does a meadow, river or forest taste like? That’s a prickly question! One we boldly try to answer by exploring the province in the hopes of discovering Quebec’s taste profile, a bit like a large herbarium of flavours and aromas.

Right by the Quebec-Vermont border, 80 km south of Montreal, there’s a winery steeped in history located in the town of Dunham—Domaine des Côtes d’Ardoise. It’s considered to be the oldest active commercial vineyard in Quebec and stands out through its gardens, historical buildings and impressive art exhibit. And it’s where Henry-Alain Drocourt offers tastings of the estate’s wines.

The Eastern Townships, with Mount Shefford as a backdrop, is where the Bourassa brothers harvest some 2,500,000 litres of maple water per year, and where they nurture their second passion—the distillery.

Long gone are the days when our differences were only celebrated in big cities. As pride flags are flown across the metropolis to celebrate Montréal Pride, we chatted with three members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community who’ve chosen to open businesses beyond the city limits. They shared their thoughts about inclusion and the in-roads made so far.

Coteau Rougemont Vineyard and Cidery embodies a passion for Quebec wines that has stood the test of time. Majestically overlooking the Montérégie region, it offers an authentic experience and breathtaking views. A vision of perseverance that became a reality.

At the heart of Sainte-Cécile-de-Milton is an orchard teeming with life—Cidrerie Milton. Fourth-generation owner Marc-Antoine Lasnier is the one steering this impressive outfit that continues to surprise and delight us.