First vineyard Regenerative Organic Certified™ in Canada
First vineyard Regenerative Organic Certified™ in Canada
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.
Crossing of Landot (L4511 x Vitis Riparia 89)
Crossing of Landot (L4511 x Vitis Riparia 89)
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.
Crossing of Landot (L4511 x Vitis Riparia 89)
Crossing: Rayon d’or x Ugni Blanc (Trebbiano)
Crossing: Ravat noir (S.8365 x Pinot Noir) x MN 1094
Crossing: MN 1094 x E.S.4-7-26
Crossing: Saint-Pépin x E.S. 6-8-25 (Vitis riparia x Muscat de Hambourg)
Crossing: Chancellor x Riesling (clone 239)
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.
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.