On Friday, December 9, at the vinvinvin bar, there was a party. A somewhat dismal, but nevertheless luminous party, to celebrate a bearded colossus whose sonorous laughter has unfortunately not brightened up the great SAQ on rue Beaubien for several months. It was the launch of the cuvée Le plan du weekend, from the La Bauge vineyard, in tribute to Michel Beauchamp, a counselor loved by all who is currently receiving palliative care.
A star employee of the state-owned company for more than 30 years, the connoisseur who recently blew out 50 candles has awakened a passion for wine. Appreciated by customers, winegrowers, agents who represent them and his colleagues and bosses, Michel is one of those rare humans who are unanimous. At the launch, many people were wearing a sulfur-free Gaminet, the “pinard-à-porter” brand created by Michel and his lover Édith, who recently celebrated their nuptials in bed.
PHOTO AUDREY-ÈVE BEAUCHAMP, FROM THE INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT @BARVINVINVIN
Many bottles of the Plan du weekend were drunk last weekend at vinvinvin!
At the La Bauge vineyard, Simon Naud and Steve Beauséjour wanted to “bottle” a little of this dear Michel. When the project was born, more than a year ago, the fellow had not yet received his diagnosis of cancer. In March 2022, still carefree, Michel and Edith went to the magnificent Brigham estate, an hour from Montreal, to choose the vintage that would carry one of the advisor’s signature hashtags on Instagram: #leplanduweekend.
A great lover of Beaujolais, Michel naturally chose a vat of Frontenac grape variety in carbonic maceration. This vinification technique perfected in the favorite wine-growing region of the bon vivant makes it possible to obtain supple and fruity wines. In June, Simon and Steve got to work blending the tank with another wine, trying to find the perfect balance, but in the end, Michel always came back to the purity of the Frontenac. And that’s what was bottled, quite simply, with a pretty label designed by Edith. By tasting it on Friday, we were transported to the land of Gamay, with a joyful and fruity wine.
“Like many people, I got to know Michel first as a great professional with a very sharp and very vast knowledge of his subject”, confided to us in writing Nadia Fournier, author of the wine guide which launched its 2023 edition on the same Friday evening, in Sutton.
But it was his huge heart, his kindness (and his contagious, unique laugh) that made him a friend. Michel is truly an exceptional human being.
Nadia Fournier, author of wine guide
Quebecers who love living wines can thank the advisor who was able to convince his employer to make more room for artisans on his shelves. “Michel has no prejudices about wines, as long as it’s good, it’s good, even if we know that he has a preference for the artisanal,” says Jean-Marie Robin, agent at Bacchus76. He is a person who made a lot of effort to show the big bosses of the SAQ that organic and natural wines were interesting. »
PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE SAQ
Michel Beauchamp around 2013, before the beard!
Champagne winemaker David Bourdaire recalls his first meeting with the councilor on rue Beaubien. “Michel, it’s first of all a mountain in front of you and you say to yourself: ‘Oops, am I going or am I not going?’ Then you say “Please?” and there, his big smile lights up his beard (it’s the first thing you see), then his eyes widen, full of happiness and joy at the idea of being able to help you, “wrote the sensitive wine grower from France.
“The colossus who impressed you from afar becomes your guide who stretches out his hand to you, will take care of you. You will end up asking him to come and share this bottle, this evening, and even come back, for other “gastronomical-bacchic” experiences, because Michel, you can only love him, listen to him talk to you about wine, of the terroir, the winegrower or the winegrower who is in the bottle. »
PHOTO FROM THE FACEBOOK PAGE OF QUENTIN BOURSE
Michel Beauchamp and Édith Lapierre wear the “sulphur-free gaminet” they created in collaboration with French winemaker Quentin Bourse.
Winemaker Quentin Bourse, from the Le so de l’ange estate in the Loire, was able to see his friend Michel during his recent visit to Quebec in October. “That was great, he had lots of questions about the things I’m tormenting at the moment. It was very kind of him. He was worried and curious. I felt it light up. We had a great time. Michel is the kind of person who cheers you up or comforts you, with words that are fairly fair, because they are always prudent. He is a tender and reliable friend. »
Many have been the benevolent words we have received about the kind colossus of rue Beaubien in recent weeks. We all raise a glass of Beaujolais (or Frontenac) in his honor!