Quebec wines | Another record year

The thirst for Quebec wines cannot be quenched. Sales of wine products from here increased by 12% in 2021 and nearly 3.1 million bottles were produced, a record according to the Harvest report, published by the Quebec Wine Council (CVQ). Within three years, winegrowers should double their production.

Nathaelle Morissette
The Press

The “best year”

“Several winegrowers say to themselves that this is probably the best year in Quebec’s wine history,” says Matthieu Beauchemin, owner of Domaine du Nival, in Saint-Louis. It’s a story that is young, we agree. But if we look at the last 30 years, 2021 is really the best year in terms of heat, ripeness of the grapes. This leads us to think that it will rank among the very good vintages in the history of Quebec,” says the man who produces around 35,000 bottles annually.

Last year, winemakers in the province produced 3.1 million bottles, compared to 2.3 million in 2020, according to figures revealed in the Report on harvests and wine production in Quebecon the occasion of the general assembly of the CVQ, Tuesday.

“We are really happy”, launches spontaneously, with a smile in his voice, Louis Denault, president of the CVQ, invited by The Press react to the “record” number of bottles produced. It is, according to him, the best year “ever”.

Grocery stores overtake the SAQ

New fact: for the first time, the volume of local wine sales was greater in supermarkets, convenience stores and delicatessens than at the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ). In 2021, 35% of the province’s wine products were sold in grocery stores, 30% at the SAQ, 27% in vineyards and 6% in restaurants. Whereas in 2020, 35% of wines were sold by the state-owned company and 28% by merchants. This increase in popularity of wine merchants and other delicatessens delights Louis-Philippe Mercier, sommelier and co-owner of La Boîte à vins. “This is the first time in the history of wine in Quebec that grocers have dethroned the SAQ. »

Law 88, adopted in 2016, allowed Quebec wine producers to sell directly to grocery stores and convenience stores, without having to go through the SAQ.

“Vineyards of all kinds are found in grocery stores,” says Louis Denault. Everybody is here. At the SAQ, the big players are there, but the small players are not. »

Mr. Mercier adds for his part that the three-day strike called in November by the 800 employees of the SAQ warehouses – which affected the supply of the branches for several weeks – were profitable for a business like his.

More grapes

Within three years, more than half of producers (58%) intend to plant more vines. If this materializes, the area under grape cultivation will increase by 23%. Currently, 975 hectares are devoted to this crop. “Just next year, we think that there will be 200 hectares that will be added, calculates Louis Denault. It’s a lot. It’s almost scary. There are a lot of new players who will crash a lot. He is going to plant vines. »

“We have seen it for two or three years, there is a renewed interest in planting vines in Quebec, observes Matthieu Beauchemin. There are winegrowers who are increasing their area, there are newcomers who are planting new vineyards. It’s going to be important that there are new players who are added and who help to water Quebec because with the demand that is there, we won’t be able to do it. »