I’ve always wondered who flies to Bagotville. Whenever I see it posted on the departure board at the airport, I wonder where it is and why people go there. This time, it was me and my youngest son. We were headed to quaint Saugenay, Quebec, two hours north of Quebec City for the Saguenay Wine Festival or Festival de Vin de Saugenay.
Saugenay is famous for their stunning fjord, the only navigable fjord in North America, beautiful Lake Saint-Jean with panoramic views and whale watching. As the statue alongside the Saugenay River suggests, Beluga whales are often seen swimming and bobbing through the waters.
If there is something Quebec does well, it is festivals. I’ve been to FEC in Quebec City and Jazz Fest in Montreal and both have wow’d me with not only the festival happenings but also the allure of the settings themselves. As one of Canada’s earliest settled spaces, Quebec always offers romance, coupled with the intrigue of history. It also reminds me that I am a bad Canadian who should be able to speak French.
On this particular trip, I went into the heart of Quebec where like me, the majority of the population is unilingual. Unlike me, that language is French. That’s okay because smiles are universal. Despite the language barrier, everyone was beyond friendly, full of warmth and kindness…If not for me, definitely for my son who’s blue eyes and huge smile captured the heart of everyone who saw him.
The Saguenay Wine Festival kicked off with a big party in the town square, drawing hundreds of wine lovers; some are in the wine industry, some are there just because they like good wine. Guests sampled a curated number of wines while a DJ was spinning overhead.
The party continued over the next few days, shutting down the main street and filling it with hundreds of wines, spirits and of course, people.
This annual event draws winemakers and distributors, wine journalists and sommeliers from all over the world and yes, they know how to throw a party. Spirits were also well represented with whiskies, bourbons and a number of gins on display for sampling.
It was a family friendly event with kids in strollers, in carriers (like my son) and in wagons while parents chatted with friends, sipped and mingled in the warm summer sun.
I met Alex Bonfils, a young winemaker from France, chatted with famous Montreal entrepreneur, Nicholas Duvernois (of Romeo’s Gin) who had appeared on Dragon’s Den, and had dinner with famous wine journalist, judge and International Wine Master, Roger Bohmrich.
I was able to discover new wines and varietals that I didn’t know existed (I hadn’t seen a Chenin Blanc in years!) and explore the fabulous world of wines beyond the LCBO.
I can’t stop feeling like I unearthed a hidden gem in Saugenay. Here is a collection of wines, people and foods that I had no clue existed, yet have been gathering for years to celebrate the ‘joi des vivre.’
The restaurants surrounding the festival were exceptional; the exhibiting wines (and the wines in local bars) were delicious; the people I met were warm and funny; the backdrop breathtaking.
Whether you are a wine aficionado or just enjoy a good swirl and sip, the Festival de Vin de Saugenay is a the perfect place to discover something new. This festival encapsulates everything that is charming and romanticly Quebecois. From July 9-11, 2020, this party will be ready and waiting for you to visit, explore and enjoy.
I will see you there.
For more information contact: info@festivinsaguenay.ca
*Although this was a gifted experience, Festival de Vin De Saugenay has not pre-approved or reviewed this post