Take a tasty adventure in Montérégie

Apple orchards, maple sugar shacks, cheese factories, farms, microbreweries, cider houses and vineyards all offer the premium local ingredients that tickle visitors’ taste buds. Plus, the lakes, rivers and forests abound with outdoor activities, including hiking, biking and paddling.

Covering 11,000 square kilometres, the region offers plenty of opportunities to explore the mountains, two national parks, 12 regional and local parks, and two UNESCO-recognized natural reserves.

There are 1,000 kilometres of paved biking paths, plus hiking trails and numerous sites for canoeing and kayaking. Or, if you want to get a bird’s-eye view, you can take a hot air balloon ride to survey the countryside.

To immerse yourself in the region’s maple flavours, a visit to a sugar shack is mandatory. The Sucrerie de la Montagne, a Québec Heritage Site by Mont Rigaud, is open year-round.

It offers horse and buggy rides, and you can learn about the traditional methods used to make maple syrup. You can also indulge in a hearty, maple-infused meal, tap your toes to live music, shop in the general store and stay overnight in a year-round cottage accommodation.

Wine is another specialty of the region. Many vineyards are open to the public and a great way to become familiar with their products is to take the Montérégie Wine Route. Sparkling, white, red or rosé wines can all be sampled along the 414-kilometre trail with 21 stops.

For example, at Vignoble Côte de Vaudreuil in Vaudreuil-Dorion, you can sip and savour while enjoying classical music and the works of local artists. Or, at Domaine Cartier-Potelle in Rougemont, taste estate-made wines and take in the breathtaking view of Mount Saint-Grégoire and the Monteregian valley.

Breweries and mead houses can also be found throughout the area. At Bedondaine & Bedons Ronds Brasseur Artisan – Musée de la bière in Chambly, you can order one of the craft beers brewed on-site using traditional methods. Plus, there’s a beer museum with a collection of 27,000 items. Or, if you visit Bilpub Microbrasserie in downtown Saint-Hyacinthe, you can quaff one of the 12 house brews on tap.

Just outside Saint-Hyacinthe is La Rabouillère, a farm dedicated to agri-tourism since 1992. The distinct property is a breeding farm with an array of animals, including llamas, deer, donkeys, sheep, goats, chickens and rabbits. Read through the historical interpretation panels, then visit the boutique where you can buy meats from their farm, cold cuts, cooked dishes, plus jams, jellies and other treats. At the high-end, country-style restaurant, Table Champêtre, you can dig into a delicious homemade meal featuring farm-fresh products.