Day 46 Quebec

Today was my birthday! I am seldom not home for my birthday but we realized that this is probably the first time in almost 40 years that I spent my birthday with Nancy. Apparently she has taken that as a challenge to see to it that I have a spectacular day!

The morning is spent in utter laziness. Lingering over coffee in our jammies, checking in on the Olympics and responding to the many birthday wishes that social media now delivers! By the end of the morning the troops are called to action, but I’m not allowed to lift a finger, and a picnic lunch is packed as we travel to Nancy’s and Jean Francois’ winery!

Their sugar bush has been operational for a number of years. I have visited several times and while it is a great operation for producing maple syrup, in is little more than a shack in the woods. Most sugar bushes are the same. They call them “sugar shacks” for a reason! When I heard a few years back that they had decided to start a winery on a part of the same land, I expected the same type of operation. I knew of course that the mechanics would be different but I expected “humble and home grown’. I certainly did not expect the beautifully crafted buildings, ultra-modern labs, the charming cellars and the beautiful rolling vineyards that they have created. Jean Francois and his brother Jocelyn share in this winery. While they both have other careers (Jocelyn is a doctor, significant when you learn how the wines are labeled), they have built this winery on land that has been owned by their family for generations. When I say built, I mean built! Le Fief de la Rivière has been built by using building timber taken from their land. The vines have been planted, pruned and tended by hand – the hands of Jocelyn and Monique, Jean Francois and Nancy and occasionally their children when harvesting means extra hands are needed. They have conducted the business of their “day jobs” since 2008, and as soon as they finish that, they head out into the fields to tend to the chores that have already led them to award winning wines! According to the sign next to the door where the winery now welcomes guests, water, earth, passion and labour are the four elements necessary in a vineyard. Water and earth are of course a given, the passion is clear but the labour of love that has resulted in what they have created in just eight years is astounding! The Globul wines all have a stylized drop at the top of the label and are individually identified as A, A+, B, B+, and the Rose as an AB. Wine as life blood – works for me! Remember Jocelyn is a doctor? Quite clever!

We visited last year when we were here to celebrate our nephew’s wedding. Unfortunately Mary-Kate was not able to be with all of us at that time. She has heard the stories so was very looking forward to the visit. We walked the vineyards and learned all about the fruits of those vines and the work needed to get them to the vats. We took a side trip out to the sugar shack and by the time that was finished the heat of the day had us heading for the cool of the upper deck overlooking the vineyards to enjoy a beautiful view while we enjoyed our delicious lunch. Pâté and cheese, fruit and chocolate, bread and spiced meats, all washed down with what else but wine – what a way to spend your birthday!

After a tour of the buildings, a stop at the gift shop and a collection to take home with us the afternoon was fading and we headed back to Nancy’s for fun in the cool pool! We have spent so many happy hours floating, lazing, playing and laughing in this pool. I am left to languish when once again Nancy springs into action to create a wonderfully delicious birthday dinner. I thought the picnic was it but oh no! We have steaks and shrimp, roast potatoes and wild rice, grilled garlic toast and salad with the most interesting combination of greens, various veggies, nuts and seeds, dried berries, chocolate (!) all drizzled with a homemade raspberry-balsamic vinaigrette that was oh so delicious! All of course complemented by a bottle of Le Fife de la Rivière’s finest!

Barely able to move following that meal, we nonetheless head out to catch the tail end of Stephanie’s soccer game. She has made my birthday cake and although she couldn’t have dinner with us because of her game, I refuse to enjoy birthday cake without her! By the time the game is done, our food has settled enough that there is room for cake … and Brazilian flambéed coffee!!! Honestly my sister has outdone herself – my birthday has been a celebration of family, fun and gastronomic delights!

A day in our family is never finished without a game though and we started into a crazy card game called, How Do You Do Your Majesty! Everyone is dealt a stack of cards, facedown. As we take turns revealing our top card everyone is to respond, depending on the card revealed. We salute the King, bow to the Queen, and shout “How do you do your majesty?” to the Jack. The last person to respond loses a point. As the game progresses, we take turns deciding on how we will respond to other cards as they appear. We decide to cough at the 10, sneeze at the 9, blow a kiss to the 8, etc. I am laughing so hard by this time that it sparks hiccups and that only adds to the fun and laughter!

If a birthday is a celebration of life, my birthday was well spent!

The winery

The winery barn

One of the garden rest spots before heading out into the vineyards.

Out to the vines

Nancy explaining the process

Mary-Kate learning how to make maple syrup

The sugar shack

From the upper vineyards, looking back at the lower vines and winery buildings

Lunch on the deck

One of many Auntie Nancy kisses!

Their latest tasting room, 16 feet below ground

Mary-Kate appreciating the bouquet

My delicious birthday dinner - no room yet for the spectacular salad!

Cheers

Birthday cake from Stephanie (and my birthday present - a bottle of their Reserve, Le Fife de la Rivière glasses, maple syrup and maple butter (I may have to share that!)

Flambéed coffee

Cheers again!