OUR GRAPE VARIETIES
Specializing in noble grape varieties
We have chosen to be loyal to European winemaking traditions. To produce high quality wines, we specialize in the cultivation of noble grape varieties, generally more common in Europe than in Quebec due to their sensitivity to severe cold. However, our geographical location is beneficial to us. Being located at the southwestern tip of the province, Hemmingford is one of the warmest regions in Quebec.
Pinot noir
For lovers of subtle and delicate wines, Pinot Noir is the king of grape varieties. Known worldwide for the red wines of Burgundy, it is also used in Champagne. Cultivated all over the world, it has found an ideal terroir in our southern neighbours (Oregon). Liking the coolness of the night, Pinot noir behaves very well in Eastern Canada, among others in Quebec.
Merlot
A mythical grape variety cultivated all over the world, it is mainly recognized (along with Cabernet Sauvignon) as one of the two great grape varieties of Bordeaux wines. Merlot is known for its roundness and soft tannins and can produce full-bodied and complex wines. In Canada, it is common in the Okanagan Valley and the Niagara Peninsula. Our best summers can see it develop to its full potential, but it remains our most sensitive grape variety to harsh winters.
Cabernet franc
The main red grape variety of Loire wines (Chinon, Bourgueil, Saumur-Champigny), Cabernet Franc is a common blending variety and one of the oldest in the Bordeaux region. Its light tannins, berry and spice aromas generally produce crisp wines. In Canada, it is widespread and gives magnificent results in Niagara and Prince Edward County as well as in our fields.
Riesling
Riesling is the most cultivated grape variety in Germany and in Alsace, producing lively wines with a beautiful minerality and fruity aromas. Our northern climate and our cool nights allow a production of very good quality. It is not widely cultivated in Quebec, but it gives very good results in Ontario in the Niagara Peninsula and in Prince Edward County.
Chardonnay
It is the most widely grown grape variety in the world and is also grown in largest quantities globally. Chardonnay is known for its fullness and its ability to produce complex wines. Being the main white grape variety of Burgundy, it is also used in Champagne. Even if, like all Vitis vinifera, it must be protected against our harsh winters, it allows us to produce high quality wines in Quebec.
