A Wine Tour of the Quebec City Region--from The World's Greatest Honeymoons

• Also See •

• The Québec City Wine Road •

Day Trips to Nearby Wineries

Isle de Bacchus Winery

• Île d'Orleans • North of QC • South of Lévis •

In 1604, when French explorer Samuel de Champlain stepped onto this island near present-day Québec City, he was so pleased by the preponderance of wild grape vines blanketing the landscape that he gave it the name Bacchus, after the Roman God of Wine. (The name Île de Bacchus was later changed to Île d'Orleans).

Settlement followed immediately on Champlain's heels, and from those earliest days good and drinkable wines have been produced in the region. In recent years, technological advances have combined with winemaker dedication and skill to increase the quality of Québec's wines, resulting in critical commendation and many competition winners.

Thanks to the temperate currents of the St. Lawrence River and the mountains enclosing the valley, the area around Québec City has a slightly longer and warmer growing season than most other parts of Québec. Nonetheless, this remains a cold-climate area, one in which hardy French hybrids such as Eona, Vidal, Vandal, Seyval Blanc, Maréchal Foch, De Chaunac, and St-Croix grapes do well. In winter, vines are thickly covered with hay and dirt for protection against freezing temperatures. Blended wines, fortified wines, ice wines, and fruit wines are the stars here, along with the natural beauty of the wineries.

You'll find local vineyards in three areas, all within limited driving range of Québec City: on the Île d'Orleans, slightly north of QC, and south of Lévis (which is on the opposite side of the river from QC). The wineries below are grouped to reflect this geographical distribution:

Île d'Orleans

Vignoble Sainte-Pétronille runs from the Saint Lawrence River to the middle of the island, offering broad and wonderful views. Close to the Montmorency waterfall, the winery gets a good deal of traffic, including bus tours. It offers a new tasting room with a terrace, allowing visitors to sit outside, sip a glass, and enjoy the view. Picnic tables in the middle of the vines, sheltered from the sun by umbrellas, invite you to take your leisure over a nice lunch. Products include Voile de la Mariée—a Vandal dry white wine at its best with seafood; Insula, a blend of grape juice and brandy aged in oak and served as either an aperitif or a dessert wine; and the excellent Vin de Glace Ice Wine. Grape and wine jellies are also available.

Isle de Bacchus offers tastings in an ancient cookhouse located beneath the owners' home—a "cave" of sorts, it evokes the past in a very nice way. Bacchus grows primarily Vandal, Sainte-Croix, Foch, Éona, and Michurinetz grapes, using them to create unique blends. The white Le 1535, which commemorates the year that Île d'Orleans was discovered by French explorer Jacques Cartier, blends Vandal, Eona, and Geisenheim. The red Le Village des Entre-Cotes is a mix of St. Croix, Foch, and Michurinetz. The rosé, Le Saint-Pierre, is a medal winner.

Isle de Bacchus also maintains a lovely, moderately-priced, four-room inn; you'll find videos and information on their website.

Vignoble Domaine de la Source a Marguerite, located on the river's shore, grows 5000 hybrid vines, including Foch, Mitchurinetz, Sabrevoie, Frontenac, and Leon Milot. They also have a fruit orchard that primarily grows apples (34 varieties), but also pears and plums. Wines and ciders produced here include an award-winning aperitif, Bouquet d'automne, made of black currant and maple syrup; Les Belles de l'Île, a digestif made of apple, pear, and plum; a red wine, Domaine de la source à Marguerite; and Sur les Côteaux du Mitan, a hard cider.

On your visit you can sample the products, enjoy river and mountains views over a picnic, wander through the orchard, and shop for produce, spirits, and preserves in the boutique.

North of Québec City

Vignoble Bourg Royal offers guided tours and tastings, as well as themed events. Offerings include La Dame Blanche de Bourg Royal, a dry white wine; Le Chevalier de Bourg Royal, a dry red made from Foch, Minnesota, and Leon Millot grapes; and a sparkling wine derived from Eona, Vandal, and Seyval grapes. An unusual and unusually good cranberry ice wine—said to be the first ever produced—carries the unusual name L'ame de Dracula. Various ciders are produced here, too, including the award-winning l'Esprit du Nord, which is great with cheese and desserts

Domaine l'Ange Gardien is located in the hills of l'Ange-Gardien on Royale Avenue—the original road of New France (and a popular bicycle trail). From the vineyards you can see to the Île d'Orleans and Québec City. Products include L’Ange Gardien, a gold-colored fortified wine that's excellent paired with cheese, desserts, or as an aperitif; Griserie, a strawberry wine with a light oak finish—wonderful with chocolates or mixed with white wine as a kir; and Bivouac, a white cherry mistelle with a complex taste—try it with dark chocolate, nuts, coffee desserts.

Vignoble Moulin du Petit Pré, planted primarily with Vandal Cliché vines, is named for a 1695 flour mill on the property that houses the winery. Wines produced here include the late-harvest white Cristaux de Givre; the dry white Moulin du Petit Pré; the dry rose Cuvee du Coteau; and the dry red La Pente Douce Pré. Various fruit wines are derived from the estate's orchards, including the lovely Demoiselle du Prinemps (fortified raspberry wine). Two liqueurs, framboise and saskatoonberry, add depth to the lineup. Food products include Black Currant-Saskatoonberry Butter and a series of vinegars (including a pure balsamic vinegar that's been aged for 2 years).

While you're here, spend some time in the mill—the oldest flour mill in North America. Buy milled flour, or bakery goods made from the flour, or relax in the cafe on the ground floor (crepes are a specialty). Guided tours of the mill's mechanism are available.

Domaine Royarnois is located on the grounds of an historic seminary across the river from Île d'Orleans. Royarnois maintains 15,000 vines, producing wines from the hardy Vandal Cliché, St-Croix, and Frontenac grapes. An award winner, the semi-dry and fruity Le Vin du Petit Cap—made in the German style—is particularly good with hors-d'oeuvres, fish, and cheese. Le Roselin, winner of the 2003 Silver Cup at the Coupe des Nations competition, is a semi-dry rosé. Le Rouge de Montmorency and Le Blanc de Montmorency round out the offerings.

While visiting you can take a winery tour, enjoy a tasting or a wine/cheese pairing, choose selections of wine, cheese, and patés for a terrace picnic. The Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area, which has played a major role in the revitalization of the Greater Snow Goose, is nearby. »»Cap Tourmente NWA Visitor's Guide

South of Lévis

Vignoble le Nordet, nestled on the edge of the Etchemin River, offers free tastings, wine and cheese pairings (reservation required), and guided visits. Wines include the gold-medal winner Solstice d'Hiver, a digestif that's capable of replacing Sauternes as an accompaniment to foie gras. A white port wine, Bise des Prés, would be superb with bleu cheese or anything chocolate. The red Cardinal and white Paruline round out the offerings. Except for the ciders, that is. For something a bit unusual, drop into the Cider House and give the ice cider a try.

Vignoble la Cache a Maxime, which has won awards as a popular tourist attraction, offers guided vineyard tours, a tasting room, and an on-site restaurant serving regional cuisine and a pretty hefty Sunday brunch. In addition, a Friday-night dinner theater runs from June through September. Growing Foch, St-Croix, and Vandal-Cliché grapes, the wines produced here include Le Jarret Noir, a red blend recommended for grilled and braised meats; Le Jarret Noir white; and a fine Rosé.

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All written material ©WGH ~ Photos: © Suzanne Rodriguez (Isle de Bacchus photo)