This year, the Eastern Townships are delighting the senses with a fresh wave of flavour! From festive ciders and local collaborations to nature-inspired experiences, eco-friendly projects, and newly opened gourmet spots—the region is bursting with culinary news. Here’s a look at the must-visit places and initiatives making headlines in 2025! 🥂
Cidrerie Milton – New Spaces and Festive Events
A brand-new outdoor cider bar now offers the perfect space to relax and enjoy a drink in good company.
This unique structure, designed to blend indoor comfort with the outdoors, creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere in every season.
Imagined as a place to connect and share, it invites visitors to discover a curated selection of ciders in an inspiring setting.
A small petting farm has also been added, offering sweet moments with adorable animals!
On top of these exciting additions, Cidrerie Milton is more festive than ever this year!
You may have spotted them at Soif de Cidre or during Crêpes & Cidres Sundays, and you’ll find them again soon at the Bières & Saveurs de Chambly festival.
Their ciders are also available anytime on Bon Appétit QC.
And don’t forget to mark your calendars for Contre-Courant, the orchard festival happening September 12–13! 🗓️ 🍎
Vignoble de l’Orpailleur – Awarded Silver Certification from GreenStep
Vignoble de l’Orpailleur is proud to share a milestone that speaks to its strong commitment to sustainability: the vineyard has been awarded Silver Certification by GreenStep, a globally recognized organization known for its rigorous sustainable tourism standards. 💚
Since its beginnings, Vignoble de l’Orpailleur has made sustainability a core priority.
Driven by a deep respect for the land that nourishes us, the team began working toward certification with GreenStep in 2024 to give structure to their efforts and create a lasting, positive impact.
Verger Champêtre Gîte & Compagnie – New Features to Enhance the Visitor Experience
The orchard has just launched a brand-new website, offering a smoother experience for users with an interactive map, online ticketing, and gift certificate purchases for orchard access—plus many other handy features. 💻
The experience is also expanding with two new animal parks: one dedicated to Highland cows and the other to miniature goats.
The latter offers an immersive experience where visitors can enter the enclosure, interact with the animals, and enjoy playful moments up close.
To complement this, a new educational feature will include digital info cards and QR codes at each park, giving access to detailed information about the animals on-site.
It’s a perfect blend of hands-on discovery and learning—an immersive farm experience for all ages! 🐄
And finally, the on-site farm shop will now offer delicious new treats, including spit-roasted meats and house-smoked products to enjoy during your visit.
Gourmande Boutique – An Outstanding Collaboration to Support Local Producers
At Gourmande Boutique, collaboration with—and between—local artisans is a deeply held value.
In that spirit, the boutique has recently launched two exclusive new products: Sel Gourmand and Explosion Boréale seasoning!
Sel Gourmand starts with salt extracted from the pure waters of the Labrador Current, produced by Sel Saint-Laurent in Grandes-Bergeronnes on the Côte-Nord.
That salt is then smoked by Les As du Fumoir in Bury, in the Eastern Townships, using wood from barrels once used to age whisky.
Those very barrels were first repurposed by Virgin Mady, another local artisan business, to age a portion of their exceptional maple syrup.
A beautiful example of circular economy in action! ♻️🧂
Explosion Boréale is an innovative seasoning made with Saint-Laurent salt, gorria chili peppers from Jardin des chefs in Charlevoix, and dune pepper harvested in Québec’s northern regions.
This exclusive blend, also prepared by Les As du Fumoir for Gourmande Boutique, captures the bold, untamed essence of our northern landscapes.
Domaine Jolivent – Innovation and Local Gastronomy
The first edition of La Gastronomie en fête in Lac Brome was a great success, bringing together chefs Clément Boivin and Tarik Belmoufid to celebrate regional producers.
The restaurant team is also growing, welcoming French chef Baptiste Gournay, who brings a fresh culinary signature to the table! 😍
For an immersive experience, the Winter in Three Pines Tour transported visitors into the world of Louise Penny, blending exploration with fireside comfort.
This fall, the Domaine will break ground on an ambitious expansion project featuring 13 new rooms, a redesigned restaurant, a spa, a heated pool, and eco-conscious features including lake-sourced geothermal energy. The grand opening is set for June 2026. 🥳
In the meantime, the year is filled with events: Jolivent’s anniversary celebration, Mother’s Day brunch, open-house happy hours, and a fall Speakeasy concept blending gastronomy and music in a captivating atmosphere!
Cidrerie Autour de la Pomme – New Creations of Ice and Fire
Cidrerie Autour de la Pomme is expanding its collection with two exceptional new ciders: one ice cider and one fire cider.
These artisanal creations strike a delicate balance between bright acidity and caramelized sweetness, achieved through the concentration of juice using either natural cold or intense heat.
Each sip reveals the refined character of the fruit in two contrasting yet beautifully complementary expressions.
Now available in select restaurants and fine grocery stores, these ciders invite you on a unique sensory journey—perfect for curious palates and lovers of bold flavours! ❄️🔥
Miellerie Lune de Miel – Discover the World of Bees as a Family
The adventure begins with the animated short Abbie’s World, which follows the fascinating life of a bee—from birth to its vital role in the hive.
Visitors then get an up-close look at bees in action through a glass observation hive before stepping into The Giant Hive, a life-sized reconstruction offering a unique perspective on their habitat.
The visit ends on a sweet note with a tasting of delicious honeys.
An educational and tasty experience not to be missed! 🍯🐝
Les Cocagnes – The Highly Anticipated Opening of La Grange: A Bold New Gourmet Destination!
Les Cocagnes is marking a major milestone with the much-anticipated opening of La Grange des Cocagnes in June 2025!
This new multifunctional space enhances the experience for both visitors and partners by blending agriculture, gastronomy, and innovation.
A farm-style café and shop will offer fresh and prepared products from resident farms, along with a cozy space to relax.
A Table Champêtre® dining room will host gourmet meals in the fall, following the summer season, while a shared processing kitchen will support local artisans.
An agri-food coworking space will also serve as a hub for rural entrepreneurs to connect and collaborate.
To mark the occasion, a festive grand opening will feature tastings and guided tours—don’t miss it! 🎉🥂
Les Petits Plaisirs du Roy – First Summer Season for the Business!
This fine food shop opened its doors in fall 2024 in Bedford.
After a successful launch, the team is now enjoying their very first summer season, sharing even more local flavours with visitors and the surrounding community.
Dedicated to products from Québec-based companies, the boutique offers a carefully curated selection—from fine cheeses and artisanal oils to local beers and, of course, their famous homemade caramels.
Crafted in small batches right in the shop’s kitchen, these caramels are made without colouring agents or preservatives—just real, delicious ingredients made with passion. ❤️🔥
To discover more ambassadors of Québec’s local terroir, explore the Terroir et Saveurs du Québec directory.
