A Lavalloise vineyard with a variety of grape varieties

Émilie André
Founder of EMY Agency

A determined entrepreneur and planner, Émilie André founded Emy Planification in 2011—now known as Agence EMY. At the time, she had a very specific goal: to combine her two passions—event planning and video production coordination. These two passions have been a part of her for nearly 10 years and continue to evolve. Since then, she has happily alternated between the frenzy of the event industry and the excitement of a film set—two environments fueled by a team spirit dedicated to bringing projects to life.

To escape the hustle and bustle of the city, head to Laval on the Montée Champagne to enjoy the welcoming, rural setting of Château Taillefer Lafon, a gem still relatively unknown to the general public.

At the entrance to the estate, an invitation to a wine tasting awaits us. At the end of this tree-lined driveway stands a building with an old-world European charm, just a few steps away from the region’s major highways. There’s an intimate atmosphere that settles in as soon as we arrive.

At Taillefer Lafon, a passion for the land has been cultivated for several generations. And there’s no shortage of aromas across more than six hectares, with a dozen grape varieties at the heart of this family-run operation. When speaking with the owners, you can sense their attention to detail and meticulousness, which blend seamlessly with innovation: consistency, rigorous quality control, and a commitment to improving their products—all aspects aimed at offering the very best to consumers. They shared with us various techniques they use, including grass cover, which allows the vines greater exposure to the sun while using natural grass to absorb excess water. It’s a wonderful way to adapt to the local climate.

In addition to being the first winery in Quebec authorized to use the term “Château” and the province’s largest producer of grapes from the noble “vitis vinifera” vines, the estate generates a very impressive annual production volume of nearly 25,000 bottles of wine, bottled at the Château. And with their expansion project set to be completed by 2017—which will add four additional hectares—this output is bound to increase. They also take the time to explain what goes on behind the scenes. The end of the summer season marks the start of the harvest, which generally continues until the end of October. Each variety is harvested when the grapes have reached optimal ripeness. As for the vines, we
wrap them, lay them flat, and then bury them to protect them from the cold until next spring. The fermentation phase then begins with two types of maceration: cold and short-term for white and rosé wines, and warm over a longer period for red wines. The separation of the juice from the berries marks the end of fermentation.

The aging of the wine can then begin, a process that lasts—depending on the desired result—anywhere from three months to two years. Apples also take center stage at the Château, with the estate’s orchard comprising 5,000 apple trees. After harvesting, the apples—which will go on to earn the estate’s ice wine and ice cider gold and silver medals, respectively—are refrigerated until the end of December before being pressed. Fermentation is preceded by a cryoconcentration stage, a technique made possible by Quebec’s cold winters. The barrels are stored outdoors for three to eight weeks, during which time the water freezes and separates from the sugar. The must is then collected by gravity, and the ice crystals remain on the surface of the barrels. Between 2012 and 2014, the vineyard doubled its production from 50,000 to 100,000 bottles of ice cider.

One thing is certain: with such a wonderful variety of products, whether you’re a foodie or simply a fan of this type of wine, your taste buds are sure to be delighted. And if the Taillefer Lafon experience appeals to you, we invite you to meet the winemaker at the Château. All you’ll have to do is let yourself be captivated by the fruity aromas of the Cuvée Premium white wine or the sparkling Cuvée Montée Champagne.