Karibu | A showcase for Quebec wines

(Quebec) In Old Quebec, Saint-Jean Street is a popular stop for tourists. It is also where Karibu, Quebec’s first wine interpretation center, is located.

Thousands of tourists visit Quebec City every year. But not all of them have time to visit the vineyards. To help them discover local wines without leaving the city, sommelier Win Le Phan has just opened a space dedicated to Quebec terroir. “We don’t want the American couple to leave with just a container of maple syrup in their suitcase,” she says. “We want them to discover Quebec wines and take them home.”

She named the place Karibu. An easy word to remember, says the owner. At the entrance, a gourmet counter offers sandwiches, cheeses and charcuterie to take away. There is also a gift area with Quebec products, including a hundred different wines.

The uniqueness of the place is at the back of the store: at the bar. The sommelier has created a tasting area where it is possible to taste the different products. “The themes and wines presented vary according to the arrivals,” explains Win Le Phan. “Sometimes it will be five reds, five whites, and we will also have spirits.”

Karibu has set itself the mandate of being the first wine interpretation centre in Quebec. The history of Quebec viticulture, information on grape varieties and on the pioneers of the vineyard are displayed in French and English on the walls.

From the vine to the glass

Before becoming passionate about Quebec wine, Win Le Phan was a restaurateur. Her family, originally from Vietnam, opened several restaurants in Quebec City, including Dana and Madame Phan. But the young mother was short on time with her children. The forced shutdown of the pandemic prompted her to change careers: she converted to wine.

After an internship at the Orpailleur vineyard, she planted a hectare of vines with her partner in Notre-Dame-des-Pins, in Beauce. “The vines froze in 2023,” says the winemaker. “We replanted everything.” The first grapes from the Vieille Grange estate should be ready in 2026.

The businesswoman was not going to watch her vines grow without doing anything. She created a project to talk about her passion. Thus was born Karibu.

The location also allows him to reconnect with the restaurant business, since it includes a 50-seat restaurant where chef Mathieu Fraser revisits Quebec classics for lunch and dinner.

Other must-try dishes like poutine and macaroni and cheese are also offered in harmony with local wines. And for those who prefer to accompany the meal with a non-alcoholic drink, grape juice from the Orpailleur vineyard is on the menu.

Karibu is just starting out, but Win Le Phan is thinking big. Among other things, she dreams of organizing conferences and tastings with Quebec winemakers. “We can’t define ourselves as an economuseum, because we don’t produce wine on site. But that will come,” she assures us.

The businesswoman is indeed considering planting vines on the roof, an idea inspired by the urban vineyard of the Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec in Montreal (ITHQ).

1124, rue Saint-Jean, Quebec

To discover at Karibu

In amphora

After years of work, the Girouard estate is finally marketing the bottles from its vineyard planted in 2016 in Sutton. The wines vinified with the advice of Jean-Paul Martin are a great success. In particular, the blend of Seyval, Frontenac Blanc and Pinot Gris named Altitude 220. Part of the vintage is aged in amphora to avoid the woody notes brought by barrel aging. The terracotta container has the particularity of reducing the acidity of the wine. The aromas of peach pits and fruits are found in a rich and gourmet texture in the mouth. In the finish, the Pinot Gris brings a subtle smoky touch typical of the wine that prolongs the pleasure.

Domaine Girouard, Altitude 220 2022, $29

Exotic

North of Lake Saint-Pierre, in Yamachiche, the Beauchemin vineyard has changed a lot since it was bought by Liudmila Terzi and Richard Brasseur. The couple invested in infrastructure and, above all, in field work to improve the quality of the wines. It’s a success! The blend of hybrid varieties composed of Louise Swenson, Frontenac Blanc, Vidal and Osceola Muscat is aromatic. We recognize pineapple, mango and white flowers. The aging in stainless steel vats highlights the fruity and refreshing profile of the wine. A short maceration of the skins for a few hours provides just enough structure to create pairings with fish and grilled chicken.

Domaine Beauchemin, White 2022, $29