Terroir and Grape Varieties

The Terroir

La Bauge Vineyard is located in the Brome-Missisquoi Valley, at the foothills of the Appalachians, near the village of Brigham, on the southern slope of a small hill, specifically on a slate ridge covered with silty-sandy glacial deposits, formerly submerged by the Champlain Sea. This explains the density, depth, and a certain minerality found in the white wines. The vineyard’s drainage is excellent due to a slope of 2 to 3 degrees towards the East.

Grape Varieties

Frontenac Noir

Crossing of Landot (L4511 x Vitis Riparia 89)

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A hybrid grape created in 1978 by Jim Luby at the University of Minnesota and selected in 1983 by Peter Hemstad for its ability to store a good sugar content. It easily produces wines naturally ranging from 11 to 13%. It exhibits good resistance to downy mildew and slight sensitivity to powdery mildew. However, vigilance is required for symptoms of anthracnose and black rot. During rainy or very humid vintages, the fruits may be affected by light to severe botrytis, requiring attention. It has a long, loose cluster, with fruits not tightly packed. This versatile, productive, refined, fruity, aromatic grape with lively acidity has skin that is rather deeply red with violet reflections in its youth.

The first Frontenac Noir grapevines were planted in our vineyard in 1999. Our winemaker particularly appreciates its juice and pulp, as well as the subtle tannins that can be extracted during carbonic fermentation. No winter protection is applied over these vines at La Bauge.

Frontenac Gris

Crossing of Landot (L4511 x Vitis Riparia 89)

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This grape resulted from a spontaneous mutation that appeared on a mother plant of Frontenac Noir in the University of Minnesota's research plot. Our research committee had the opportunity to taste its wines for the first time during a study trip to Minnesota in 2002. It was then patented in 2003 by the University.

It has the ability to store a good sugar content, easily producing wines naturally ranging from 11 to 13%. It shows good resistance to downy mildew and slight sensitivity to powdery mildew. However, vigilance is required for symptoms of anthracnose and black rot. During rainy or very humid vintages, the fruits may be affected by light to severe botrytis, requiring attention. It has a long, loose cluster, with fruits not tightly packed. This versatile, productive, refined, fruity, aromatic grape with lively acidity often imparts an amber hue with orange reflections to its wines, even without maceration. It has interesting potential for late harvest or ice wine.

Our first Frontenac Gris plants were planted in the vineyard in 2004. Our winemaker particularly appreciates its juice and pulp, aromatic complexity, and versatility in winemaking. No winter protection is applied over these vines at La Bauge.

Frontenac Blanc

Crossing of Landot (L4511 x Vitis Riparia 89)

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This grape resulted from a spontaneous mutation that appeared in Quebec in 2006. During an autumn walk in his vineyard, our winemaker observed that a part of a Frontenac Gris plant, which was offering its first fruits, produced rose-purple fruits typical of Frontenac Gris, while another part of the plant produced golden yellow fruits. Upon closer inspection, he noted that the golden yellow fruits all originated from a single branch, born from a single bud on the cord of the Frontenac Gris plant. To everyone's surprise, a spontaneous mutation of Frontenac Gris creating Frontenac Blanc had been discovered here in our vineyard. We then took cuttings from this branch to create a mother plant, which in turn produced several cuttings that were replanted at La Bauge and in several other Quebec vineyards.

It has the ability to store a good sugar content and easily produces wines naturally ranging from 11 to 13%. It shows good resistance to downy mildew and slight sensitivity to powdery mildew. However, vigilance is required for symptoms of anthracnose and black rot. During rainy or very humid vintages, the fruits may be affected by light to severe botrytis, requiring attention. It has a long, loose cluster, with fruits not tightly packed. This versatile, productive, refined, aromatic grape with lively acidity produces wines with a pale yellow to golden yellow hue. It has interesting potential for late harvest or ice wine.

Our winemaker particularly appreciates its juice and pulp, as well as its aromatic complexity. No winter protection is applied over these vines at La Bauge.

Vidal

Crossing: Rayon d’or x Ugni Blanc (Trebbiano)

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A grape hybridized by Jean-Louis Vidal around 1930, widely planted in the northeastern viticultural sector of North America, Canada, and the United States for the production of fresh and delicate white wines, as well as ice wine. A relatively late-ripening grape, it has good cold resistance, up to -24°C, which is not sufficient for the average winter temperatures in Quebec of -32°C. This vine must be covered with canvas or soil to safely endure the winter.

Vidal is a grape with good and fairly stable productivity. However, during the summer season, it is highly susceptible to downy mildew and partly to white. Anthracnose also needs monitoring. Its thicker leaves are not the preferred choice of phylloxera-causing insects, but they are good hosts for mites like erinose. However, once veraison is complete, towards the end of August, the clusters are rarely affected by mold, allowing them to easily withstand the fall months for later harvesting, even into the colder periods. Its wine is fine, fresh, aromatic, and lemony. It exhibits good minerality and is also one of the grape varieties cultivated in Quebec with the highest tannin content in its skin.

Our first Vidal plants were planted in the vineyard in 1993. This grape requires complete winter protection at La Bauge using geotextile fabrics and straw.

Marquette

Crossing: Ravat noir (S.8365 x Pinot Noir) x MN 1094

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A grape hybridized by Peter Hemstad and Jim Luby in 1989, then selected in 1994 and named in 2006. It is a variety with good cold resistance, up to -32 and more depending on growing conditions and the quality of wood ripening. It shows very good resistance to downy mildew and little sensitivity to the whiteness of the vine. However, monitoring for anthracnose and black rot is still necessary. During rainy or very humid vintages, the fruits may be affected by light to severe botrytis, requiring attention. In winemaking, it often brings suppleness, depth, and nuances to the wine.

Our first Marquette plants were planted in the vineyard in 2006. It is one of the earliest ripening grape varieties at La Bauge, easily reaching the desired maturity and presenting medium to high acidity. No winter protection is applied over these vines at La Bauge.

Le Petite Perle

Crossing: MN 1094 x E.S.4-7-26

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A hybrid from the University of Minnesota's research program, it entered Quebec for trial in 2008. In good conditions, it generally tolerates Quebec's cold well. It has very good resistance to downy mildew and good resistance to vine whiteness. But like Marquette, it is necessary to monitor anthracnose and black rot in the summer season. During rainy or very humid vintages, the fruits may be affected by light to severe botrytis, requiring attention. It is a rather late-ripening grape with very compact clusters. It is therefore prone to mold late in the season, and ladybugs love to take refuge in the clusters, complicating the harvest and its treatment. It adds depth and texture to red wine.

We planted a small plot in 2011 at La Bauge. This grape intrigued our winemaker because it was said to be capable of producing and imparting beautiful tannins in macerated red wines. He particularly appreciates it when pressed directly, and not macerated, for the complexity of its aromas, its subtle tannins, and its moderate acidity. No winter protection is applied over these vines at La Bauge.

La Crescent

Crossing: Saint-Pépin x E.S. 6-8-25 (Vitis riparia x Muscat de Hambourg)

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No winter protection is applied over these vines at La Bauge.

Hybridized in 1988 by Peter Hemstad at the University of Minnesota, it was selected in 1992 and named in 2002 after a village in Minnesota near the Mississippi and the Wisconsin border. A grape that can be considered well adapted to the severity of our winter climate, rather early maturity, with moderate to good productivity. The only downside is that it is somewhat susceptible to downy mildew. In very humid seasons, it will need adequate protection. Then, when the fruits are very ripe, they easily fall off the cluster. It is one of our favorite grape varieties for everything it has to offer in winemaking. Very aromatic, it lends itself well to skin maceration. This grape produces white or orange wines with variable aromas depending on the type of winemaking.

Our first La Crescent plants were planted in the vineyard in 2009.

Hibernal (Geisenheim 322)

Crossing: Chancellor x Riesling (clone 239)

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A grape developed by the Geisenheim Research Institute in the Rheingau, Germany, in 1958 by Herman Mueller. Our winemaker had the chance to visit this research station in 2002. The team had prepared a complete tasting of wines from new grape varieties grown in Germany, such as Serena, Sebeina, or Regent. But at the end of the tasting, in the discussions, the researchers claimed that Geisenheim 322 remained one of the most interesting grape varieties developed there. It is a grape slightly susceptible to downy mildew and vine whiteness. It has moderate productivity and fairly late maturity, similar to Vidal.

It is the oldest grape variety in the vineyard, planted in 1993. Its fruits are aromatic and spicy. This grape requires complete winter protection at La Bauge using geotextile fabric and straw.

Trials on Noble Vinifera-Type Grape Varieties

In the 2009 season, we planted sixteen varieties of noble grape varieties in a research plot at a rate of ten plants per grape type.

Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Savagnin, Siegerrebe, Muscat Ottonel, Ortega, Bacchus, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Gamay, Syrah.

With these trials, our winemaker aimed to better understand each aspect of the cultivation of these grape varieties on our terroir, to make a more informed choice for potential selection. Over the following six years, the winemaker observed the vines and measured various parameters, including growth and canopy type, disease resistance, optimal pruning practices, cold resistance, winter protection, bud survival rate after winter, productivity, and the expression of wines from these micro-cuvées.

Ultimately, six varieties were chosen due to promising results. A new plot of 250 plants per grape type was planted in 2015 to continue research for a better understanding of these grape varieties, especially regarding their winemaking potential. Larger quantities were harvested by grape type, yielding approximately one barrel of 225 liters each.

After more than twelve years of experimentation, the winemaker selected three grape varieties to increase production: Cabernet Franc, Gewürztraminer, and Savagnin.

The first two showed good results in the field with moderate susceptibility to major diseases, good and stable productivity, and a distinct interest in the quality and expression of the produced wines. Work remains to be done on Savagnin to increase its productivity, but the wine it produces is consistently intriguing. An additional 2000 plants of these three grape varieties were added to the plot in 2021.

Grape varieties on the decline or removed

These grape varieties were removed because our trials demonstrated that we now have new vine varieties that are either less expensive to produce, more productive, with comparable or better finesse, without chaptalization, and more resistant to diseases.

The Terroir

Grape Varieties

Frontenac Noir

Frontenac Gris

Frontenac Blanc

Vidal

Marquette

Le Petite Perle

La Crescent

Hibernal (Geisenheim 322)

Trials on Noble Vinifera-Type Grape Varieties

Grape varieties on the decline or removed

Inconclusive experiments

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