Every fall, Quebeckers jump in their minivans and SUVs and head out of the city for some apple-picking fun. With all the mazes and petting zoos, you may think that apples are just for families. But in many apple picking regions, you can easily find local vendors of wines and ciders to put an adult spin on your apple fun.
Here is a guide to some of the best regions right outside the city where you can spend a dreamy day sipping cider, tasting wine, or scoffing a cocktail after filling your apple basket.
Rougemont
Our first stop is Rougemont, where the hill is alive with the sound of crunchy Macs and popping wine corks. A sleepy town in the Richelieu valley, Rougemont is the perfect spot for an apple-alcohol twosome, as orchards, cider houses and wineries all have a share in the rustic cachet of the apple capital of Quebec.
You can stop first at the Lavoie family’s La Pommeraie D’Or right off of Autoroute 112 to pick some Sparts and Macs before heading next door to their sister winery, Domaine de Lavoie, for a wine or cider picnic on the outdoor terrace.
Another haunt for your post-picking pleasure is Cidrerie Michel Jodoin, best known for its sparkling ciders. Want to turn your day trip into a romantic weekend? Contact winery and cider house Verger Côteau-Rougemont to find out about their modern inn that looks both inviting and serene.
La Pommeraie D’Or
173 Chemin de Marieville, Rougemont, QC J0L 1M0
Domaine de Lavoie
100 Chemin de la Montagne, Rougemont, QC J0L 1M0
Cidrerie Michel Jodoin
1130 Rang La Petite Caroline, Rougemont, Québec J0L 1M0
Verger Côteau-Rougemont
1105 La Petite Caroline Rougemont, Québec J0L 1M0
Mont-Saint-Grégoire
On the other side of Autoroute 10 is the lonely mountain of Mont-Saint-Grégoire. Although this region is also known for its sugar shacks, you can pick apples and sip sweet, sweet cider while enjoying the fall foliage.
At the foot of the mountain sits Vergers & Cidrerie Denis Charbonneau, where you can crunch into a freshly picked Cortland while ordering a crêpe and then wash it all down with a hard cider. Although it has an animal farm, Cidrerie Verger Léo Boutin is still a good adult option. Its Spartlands and Cortlands are ready starting September 25, and you can always stop by its “halte-cidrerie” for a cider pit-stop.
Vergers & Cidrerie Denis Charbonneau
575 Rang de la Montagne, Mont-Saint-Grégoire, QC J0J 1K0
Cidrerie Verger Léo Boutin
710 Rang de la Montagne, Mont-Saint-Grégoire, QC
Mont-Saint-Hilaire
Head out further east on the South Shore, and you’ll find yet another region known for its apple-picking charm. The rare minerals in and around the Mont Saint-Hilaire mountain make the soil ideal for apple trees, and the area has also become a bastion of artisanal winemaking.
Your best options for a pick-and-drink are Le Verger du Flanc Nord and Les Vergers Petit et fils, both of which have apple picking activities and cider products. Or after sampling the area’s various apple products, you can cap off the day at Vignoble Clos Mont-St-Hilaire for a La Belle Vie brandy.
Le Verger du Flanc Nord
835 Chemin Rouillard, Mont-Saint-Hilaire, QC J3G 4S6
Les Vergers Petit et fils
1020 Chemin de la Montagne, Mont-Saint-Hilaire, QC J3G 4S6
Vignoble Mont-Sainte-Hilaire
1194 Chemin de la Montagne, Mont-Saint-Hilaire, QC J3G 4S6
Saint-Joseph-du-Lac ⁄ Saint-Eustache
For you northern island folks, there’s no need to get road rage on the ten just to get your apple fix, as the North Shore has nearby options with orchards, cider houses, and a winery.
Verger Lacroix et Cidrerie has scads of Lobos, Paula Reds, and Macs just waiting to be plucked off the branch, and the orchard has a variety of regular, ice, and fire ciders to keep you on your toes.
Many apple spots in this area are family-oriented, but Vergers Lafrance has a more upscale farmer’s market feel despite the abundance of tractors and activities for the wee ones. You can also buy some cider and make one of their fruit-infused cocktail recipes as soon as you get home.
Your apple day could also include a stop at the local Vignoble Rivière du Chêne, which offers a tour and tasting for just $10. Or skip the apples altogether and pick grapes, as the vendanges at Rivière du Chêne starts the weekend of September 19. Either way, the alcohol really makes the whole fall experience that much sweeter.
Verger Lacroix et Cidrerie
649, Chemin Principal RR 22, St-Joseph-du-Lac, QC J0N 1M0
Vergers Lafrance
1473 PRINCIPAL CH, St-Joseph-du-Lac, QC
Vignoble Rivière du Chêne
807 Rivière Nord, St-Eustache, QC J7R 0J5
