Boasting hundreds of skilled “fromagers,” Quebec has a reputation for fine cheeses but remains an underrated producer of quality wines. In the very south of the province, near the township of Dunham, is the Vignoble du Ruisseau, a first-rate destination for wine tasting. The vineyards here are the only ones in Quebec to use exclusively European grapes. The Vignoble bottles Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet-Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Gewürztraminer. Visitors can also dine at the Vignoble’s bistro, which offers a picturesque view of the vineyards and surrounding hills. Our guide tells us that 65 per cent of the ingredients in dishes served at the bistro come from land owned by the Vignoble, which raises its own cows and pigs, as well as a variety of fruits and vegetables. While wine-tasting, we munch on fresh ham, purple and orange beets, and sweet, explode-in-your-mouth tomatoes.

In addition to top-notch producers, this region of Quebec also promises a selection of excellent restaurants. Le Coureur des Bois, in Beloeil (on the Richelieu River, about a half-hour drive east of Montreal), is one of the many that sources most of their ingredients from local farmers. Consequently, their menu is seasonal and flexible – I learn just how flexible when chef de cuisine Éric Fortin tells us that the grilled tuna in our entrée comes from a 565 lb Bluefin which he caught off the coast of the Gaspé Peninsula, shortly before our visit. It is spectacular. And just as impressive as their food is the selection of wines. Their remarkable inventory of over 14,000 bottles has earned them the Grand Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator for five years running. Visitors to the restaurant can sample a wine pairing from a collection of local and international bottles with each course. We tasted a bottle of Castor, a semi-dry white wine from the Vignoble Les Gémeaux in Hinchinbrooke, Quebec, which I found to be superb and full of fruity notes.