St-Armand
This pretty village on the Brome-Missisquoi Wine Route is worth a stop for Le Domaine du Ridge, a picturesque vineyard where fall-time means harvest-time. For a fee you can join in day of harvesting with a side of history, wine tastings and charcuteries. Discover more about the area’s history with a visit to the Missisquoi Museum in Stanbridge East, whose three historical buildings include a mill, a classic general store and an impressive 12-sided barn.
Frelighsburg
Among the province’s most famous food towns, Frelighsburg counts multiple foodie stops. Beat & Betterave Nanobrasserie is among them: this small boutique brewery offers a flavoursome (if short) menu based on seasonal produce from their garden as well as feel-good pub bites enjoyed against a view of Mont-Pinacle. While you’re in the area, stop into Clos Saragnat: this organic vineyard produces a uniquely sweet straw wine, made with dried grapes.
© Daphné Caron
Dunham
Site of the most famous of the regions breweries, Brasserie Dunham, this village and its surroundings also counts multiple vineyards. After a hearty meal at Brasserie Dunham’s high-end pub, take the time to explore the Vignoble Domaine des Côtes d’Ardoise (the first vineyard in Québec, founded in 1980), the Vignoble Clos Ste-Croix (located at the heart of the village!) and the Vignoble du Ruisseau (maker of a sparkling maple wine). On your drive out, stop into the specialty store La Rumeur Affamée to pick up some regional delights for later.
Sutton
Trendy Sutton has a cultural microclimate of its own, well worth a half-day’s visit. Among your stops don’t miss À L'Abordage Microbrasserie, a brewery that serve up its own beers as well as a selection of natural wines. Enjoy a break on its patio (weather permitting) or enjoy the warm vibes (and a duck-topped poutine, maybe?) in its historical building dating back to 1843.
Knowlton
La Knowlton Co. is beloved for its wood-fired pizza as well as its signature beers. The microbrewery is famous for its cream ale, but serves up all sorts of other options on tap in its industrial chic space or sprawling terrasse; try the seasonal mango sour, Mexican style lager or deep, dark porter.
Bromont
In lovely Bromont, Chardo is popular gourmet restaurant and natural or organic wine bar that has a seasonal menu focused on local game, Canadian seafood and Québec (ideally wild) produce. Relish a full-blown meal experience or explore the snacks menu if you’re more in the mood to wine than dine.
Granby
In the town of Granby, seek out Arvida, a fine dining establishment featuring shareable plates of delights like homemade pork and mushroom ravioli, local scallop crudo and beef tartare. Another for your list is Maison Boire, an eco-responsible gastronomic spot serving wood-fired local veggies and meats including deer and Québec pork.
Austin
A relative newcomer in the area, the restaurant Parcelles offers fine dining that’s a destination in itself. It’s a working farm by day that sells products to a handful of restaurants in Montreal, and on weekends (Friday to Sunday evenings only) it opens for dining, upon reservation. The food is refined, surprising, ever-changing and as fresh as it comes—usually picked that day!
Eastman
If brunchtime coincides with your time in the nice small Eastman, seek out Les Trois Grâces—it’s a quiet bistro that serves up good hearty portions of delicious morning fare, from waffles to Benedicts to tartines. If possible, time it to coincide with one of Eastman’s last farmers market days of the season.
Orford
The site of the area’s most famous ski hill, Mont Ordorf, this village houses Deux Tomates: a market-fare restaurant serving natural wines and a weekly menu packed with fresh local fare (picture baby potato, basil and lemon salad with maple-lacquered salmon) and a roving selection of pizzas. They also sell readymade meals to go.
Magog
Taverne 1855 in Magog serves up local wines and beers, house cocktails as well as satisfying bistro foods, from pastas to roast lamb to fish’n’chips. Enjoy it on your way to the Le Cep d’Argent vineyard, which uses the Champenoise method to produce their uniquely savoury sparkling wine.
Hatley
Stop into Hatley for the Domaine Bergeville, purveyors of certified organic Quebec sparkling wine made according to the traditional brut method. It’s the only vineyard of its kind in Québec, and with its wines often selling out, it’s worth buying onsite, right at the source.
Coaticook
After a requisite ice cream cone at the famous Laiterie de Coaticook creamery, gather the courage for a hike in Parc de la Gorge de Coaticook to take in the grandeur of the local landscape from up close. As a reward, there are microbreweries to help quench your thirst: Microbrasserie de Coaticook and the picturesque Microbrasserie Hop Station (also serving up yummy pub fare) are both worth a stop.
