Vignoble de l’Orpailleur (CVQ*)

About Vignoble de l’Orpailleur (CVQ*)

The Orpailleur vineyard – Québec’s wine pioneer – planted its first vines in 1982 in the beautiful Dunham Valley in the Eastern Townships tourist region.

The Vineyard produces 14 wines certified IGP Vin du Québec (Protected Geographical Indication Wine of Quebec) in two ranges: the Classic Cuvées and the Signature Cuvées. Fruit of the Orpailleur vines and produced in limited quantities, our Signature Cuvées are the fruit of Vitis vinifera grape varieties (including Chardonnay) or certain aromatic varieties. They evoke our common passion for the search for the best. This quest, which began in 1982 and which continues to this day, is our signature.

L'Orpailleur has won more than 150 national and international medals. The vineyard has been a popular place for visitors for nearly 40 years. Its site, the Economuseum of the winegrower, its outdoor interpretation trail, its restaurant, the tastings and the warm atmosphere will make you live a most enriching experience. Winemaker co-owner, Charles-Henri de Coussergues is the precursor of the advancement of the wine industry in Quebec. He is the founder and administrator of the Association des Vignerons du Québec, and defender of the implementation and evolution of many laws that contribute to the influence of Quebec vineyards in Canada and abroad. He is also president of the Association of Agrotourism and Gourmet Tourism of Quebec.

L'Orpailleur, synonymous with gold digger, was given as name to the vineyard by the Quebec poet Gilles Vigneault in reference to the many gold-bearing rivers of the Eastern Townships, the host land of the vineyard.

CVQ*
The Conseil des Vins du Québec (CVQ) is an association that brings together nearly a hundred Quebec winegrowers and players in the Quebec wine industry — all united by an all-consuming passion for vine growing and wine production.
The association was created in October 1987 thanks to the initiative of winegrowers anxious to unify their energies to give birth to the wine industry in Quebec. The CVQ defends many files of interest in order to develop this sector of activity — files relating, among other things, to commercialization, the prosperity of entrepreneurs and the development of science and knowledge.
Our common goal? Grow and promote the Quebec viticulture industry one cuvée at a time.

Representative Biography

Nicolas Chiaramonte, Cellar master

Nicolas Chiaramonte, Cellar Master
Nicolas is French by origin and did an internship at the Vignoble de l’Orpailleur as part of his studies in 2004-2005. Twenty years later, he works full time at the Vineyard as Cellar Master after having worked in one cellar in the south of France.
"I love Cool Climate Chardonnay for its tension, its freshness and the fruity aromas that can develop during cold fermentation!"
Nicolas Chiaramonte, Cellar Master

Alain Bazinet, Vineyard Manager
Alain is passionate about viticulture, he is the son-in-law of the winegrower and has worked at Orpailleur since 2015. He has been the Viticultural Manager for three years.

Laure de Coussergues, Communication & Marketing Manager
Eldest daughter of the Winemaker, she is proud to be part of the next generation of the Vineyard. The Vineyard has been part of her life since she was very young!

Why We're Cool

Located on the first foothills of the Appalachian chain and on ancient beaches of the Champlain Sea, the Vignoble de l'Orpailleur benefits from an exceptional terroir. It is composed of glacial deposits (till), an amalgam of clay, sand, gravel and boulders. The altitude, between 130 and 175 meters depending on our plots, means that the warm air of the plain of Montreal bathes our hillsides, thus positioning us in one of the most temperate regions of Quebec.

The evolution of the growing season in Quebec
Since 1982, we have mainly grown French hybrid grape varieties such as Seyval blanc and Vidal, which have high quality potential in our climate with winter protection. Our grape varieties also include hardy Minnesota grape varieties that are resistant to winter temperatures such as Frontenac red and white. With the lengthening of the growing season, we now grow Vitis vinifera grape varieties such as Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc with geotextile protection in winter.

From 130 days of growing season in 1982, we now have 185 days. Quite a change in 40 years!

Thanks to a Quebec technique, the use of geotextile fabrics, these grape varieties are now grown successfully in Quebec. The latter are used to cover the vines in the fall in order to recover heat from the ground during the winter (geothermal). During cold winters, up to 10 degrees Celsius can be gained under the canvas, thus protecting the plants from harsh cold. The cold resistance of this vine family is generally -20° Celsius. Below this temperature, the vine is bruised by frost.

Vinification
Our Cuvée Signature Chardonnay is the result of traditional vinification. Cold fermentation takes place in oak barrels from three different coopers, 25% of which are new. Aging on lees. For the first three months, the cellar master stirs the wine in order to put the fine lees back into suspension and thus give it volume. The complete aging will last 12 months. Particular attention is paid during bottling to ensure the taste balance.

Distinctions
In 2022, this Chardonnay 2020 cuvée won honors in three competitions.
1) Concours Sélections Mondiales des Vins Canada 2022 :
• Ranked 10th in the Top 50 of the best scores in the competition with 94.3 points, all categories and all countries combined among 1,703 wines!
• Won the prestigious “Prix du Jury/Best of show” with the highest score among all the Canadian wines presented.
• Won a Grand Or medal in the “classic white wine” category.
• Won the Special Prize from the Oenologists of Canada.

2) Finger Lakes International Wine & Spirits Competition 2022
Double Gold medal, « Chardonnay oaked” category

3) National Wine Awards of Canada 2022
Silver medal

For our winemaker, in this Nordic viticulture, there have been many prejudices. But with passion, perseverance and discipline we have been able to demonstrate that not only is viticulture here to stay, but we are now achieving high quality standards. Quebec is gradually but certainly taking its place on the map of world viticulture!