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Photo: David Chapman<\/p>\nOn Fulford Road in Shefford, there\u2019s this huge house which, far from imposing itself on its environment, enhances it. Here, harmony reigns. The Bromont and Sutton mountains stand out beautifully in the horizon from the vineyard\u2019s elevated position. There is an impressive house, but also a barn, a pond, the grapevines.\u00a0.\u00a0.<\/p>\n
Photo: David Chapman<\/p>\n
First, it\u2019s always such a pleasure for me to be welcomed by a friendly dog, especially when it\u2019s a Weimaraner! And, even more pleasant than this is to be welcomed by Carolyn and Brock Dagenais. The couple settled in the area two years ago. \u201cWe were hoping to change our lifestyle,\u201d says Brock. Much more than a change, they literally made a 180o turnabout. From Edmonton, where he practised Law, he was hoping to buy and renovate a Ch\u00e2teau in France .\u00a0.\u00a0. and finally ended up in the Eastern Townships! \u201cWe found the property on the Internet and immediately fell in love with it,\u201d says Carolyn.<\/p>\n
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It was only when they first arrived on the site of their 258-acre property, that they decided to turn it into a vineyard. Experience in winemaking? Zero. But the love of good wine, was there as well as a lot of determination, willpower and passion! \u201cNot passion, obsession!\u201d says Brock. An enormous amount of research, discussions with oenologists and several experts, tasting other local winemakers\u2019 wine.\u00a0.\u00a0. Then came their first 50-litre vat which they used for thousands of tests \u2014 \u201cIt was out of the question to sell any wine that we wouldn\u2019t buy ourselves,\u201d says Brock\u2014, the new winemakers bought the best quality, enormous vats directly from Italy. \u201cWe wanted to work with the best quality equipment right from the start, which would help us ensure the quality of our products,\u201d explains Carolyn. However, their wine, the red (L\u2019Amour), the ros\u00e9 (Entre Nous) and the white (Toujours) are much more than the result of the vats in which they were made. Brock offers me a tasting. It is 10:00\u00a0A.M., but I am a professional so I go for it. Note that \u201cI don\u2019t speak wine.\u201d I\u2019m not a connoisseur and I don\u2019t master the exact terms that I should use to describe what I\u2019m drinking. However, I can recognize a good wine when I taste one. A taste of their white, mellow but with a kick of freshness, is as close as you can get to ecstasy; Really! I\u2019m not much of a red wine drinker but their L\u2019Amour is .\u00a0.\u00a0. truly authentic. The same can be said of the ros\u00e9 which didn\u2019t taste like any ros\u00e9 I have tasted before; less sweet, more .\u00a0.\u00a0. pronounced? Brock explains that he doesn\u2019t want to tamper with his products; he\u2019d rather adjust his process in line with their natural reaction; simply put, good honest wines that have a lot of character.<\/p>\n
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An orange wine is about to become available as well. \u201cWe take white wine grapes, but process them with the same techniques as with the red wine grapes,\u201d explains Brock. Unfortunately, I wasn\u2019t able to taste it. I will HAVE TO come back. In fact, you too, should make it a must to come visit the Belle Alliance: Because of how beautiful the place is, the friendliness of the owners, the gorgeous face of their Weimaraner, their guided tours, tastings and the precious bottles you will surely take home with you.<\/p>\n
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