Eastern Townships and Quebec Wines

One thing we learned today is that there is only one apple brandy distillery in all of Canada. We thought in a province that produces kiloliters of cider that there'd be a market for fine apple brandies, like Calvados from Normandy. Nah. Not here. Because of government regulation of the industry only one distillery produces fine apple brandies, along with cider. We acquired.

This was part of our day long effort to learn something of Quebec wines. Yes, Quebec does have a wine industry as well as a cider industry. Bleueteries make blueberry wine, vergeries make cider and apple wines, and wineries use grapes, mostly hybrid varietals to make acceptable wines.

The Cantones de l'Est are lovely. Lake views, but no view of the Magog monster, Memphre. One night at the Auberge des Deux Peres and a fine meal at the Microbrasserie in centre-ville of canard-burger and lamb-burgers made our first night. Late yesterday we checked into Manoir Hovey, a marvelously precious gem of a chalet et relais on the banks of a beautiful lake.

Manoir Hovey gives you the opportunity to enjoy a menu degustation with wines to go with. To make everyone jealous, we had seven courses with seven different, mostly Canadian wines. Two French, seven Canadian--a Languedoc chardonnay viognier to go with scallops, a Mission Hills BC pinot blanc to go with daikon, and from there to Onandagun valley meritage, Quebec ice wine, and a madeira to finish. Great stars to go with the madeira as we sat outside.

Today, Montreal. Gay pillars on the Metro! More tomorrow.