Taste the Townships

Rosé wines: 5 Favorites of the Townships

Updated on Apr 20, 2023

In Québec, nothing officially announces spring like a fine bottle of chilled rosé wine on a warm, sunny afternoon sitting on a balcony or terrace. Here are Marc-Antoine Bergeron's personal favourites in the Eastern Townships!

By Marc-Antoine Bergeron


L’Exception 2020 Invincible (Bio, Nature) | Domaine Bergeville | $37

The very popular Domaine Bergeville is a true must in the region! This Hatley vineyard has had its share of setbacks... In Marsh 2022, the explosion that destroyed the Centre de Valorisation de l’Aliment de Sherbrooke caused a lot of stress to the winemakers who stored part of their inventory here. Miraculously, most of this batch remained intact and after several analyses, the product turned out to be exceptional ... hence the name L’Exception 2020 Invincible! This wine has a very complex nose with cranberry, red and black cherry aromas as well as a floral character evoking hibiscus and violets. On the palate, you’ll discover delicate persistent bubbles and a very straightforward, extremely dry taste with a more vegetal and animal character in retro-olfaction. Pair it with your first course dish, with slightly spiced tapas or as a dessert with a piece of dark chocolate.


Rosé  2021 No. 1425 | Vignoble La Manse | $22

A young Townships vineyard, the Vignoble La Manse in Roxton Pond proposes a Provençal type rosé, elaborated using only red grape varieties (Marquette and Radisson) delicately pressed to extract their tannins and presenting a light-pink colour. This process produces a wine with character yet still delicate. With its aromas of roses, small wild red berries and strawberries, this dry wine is both fresh and velvety. Unpretentious and simply perfect! Excellent with a margarita pizza or strawberry shortcake in early summer.


Nessa | Domaine Bresee Vineyard | $20

Making wine is never easy, especially when the weather plays a major part in determining the end product! In May 2021, a spring frost greatly affected Richard Bresee’s vineyard and changed his plans for the Nessa cuvée. Being a professional, Richard was able to blend two vintages and produced this fine-quality wine. Combining Sainte-Croix and Seyval noir grape varieties, this rosé opens with a beautiful structure made up of small ripe fruits such as raspberries, cranberries, honeyberries and strawberries. Generous, fresh and festive on the palate, this rosé wine offers a sweet spices finish and will pair well with barbecued ribs or a platter of locally sourced meats and cheeses.


La Première fois 2020 | Vignoble Bromont Winery | $24

We all remember our firsts ... for better or worse! Personally, I remember my first time at Vignoble Bromont! It was a beautiful day in June when I was able to savour the wines and talk in person with François Vaes, the owner of the vineyard. I immediately fell in love with their cuvée rosée. Its blend of Frontenac gris and noir as well as Marquette grapes appealed to me from the very first nose with its floral character as well as its cranberry, cherry and wild strawberry aromas. What surprised me most about this wine was the structure. A solid presence on the palate with a round texture and fresh acidity prolonging the experience. A bonus point: this wine has virtually no residual sugar. I recommend pairing it with a delicious lobster or serving it with a bouillabaisse, a classic dish for rosé dinner wines.


Vin Rosé 2022 | La Halte des Pèlerins | $15.95

It was here, in this urban feel yet rural vineyard, that I first tasted a Québec original rosé wine. I would never have imagined that I would be writing an article about it 15 years later! In keeping with tradition, the Halte des Pèlerins offers us good, reasonable wines in terms of price and availability. The 2022 rosé features fragrant aromas of field raspberries, honeydew melon and barley sugar. The greatest quality of this wine lies in its structure. Its minimal residual sugar level and great freshness prolong the effect on the palate, culminating in a well-rounded finish. Delicious as an aperitif or with a caprese salad, fish or seafood tacos.


As a bonus...

Rosé 2021 | Val Caudalies |$19

If you’re a Québec wine enthusiast, you’re probably familiar with the Dunham terroir and the Val Caudalies vineyard. Their 2021 rosé is a blend of Maréchal Foch, De Chaunac and Chambourcin, three grape varieties brimming with fruit. Here, the complexity of the aromas comes into play. Aromas of wild red berries dominate and blend well with herbaceous and licorice notes on the nose. On the palate, it’s dry, very refreshing and offers a fine silky textured. A wonderfully inclusive wine that will pair well with richer dishes such as lobster and Québec cheese platters as well as with summer salads.

Marc-Antoine Bergeron

A native resident and true lover of the Eastern Townships, Marc-Antoine has worked in the region’s restaurant business for more than twenty years. His love of the trade has inspired him to perfect his knowledge in sommellerie. Indeed, acquiring a wine expertise has been his passion for several years now, and even prompted him to enter and win the “Battle of the somm 2019” contest. Today, the wine and spirits field has become a full-time occupation for Marc-Antoine. Whether for restaurant businesses or for private sommelier services, he loves to share his knowledge and have people discover new wines. Follow him through his column to learn more about this fascinating world as you learn more about our fabulous local products and producers!
Marc-Antoine's website

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