Royale '24

Pinard & Filles is one of Québec's most exciting natural wine producers — a small domaine based in Magog, in the Eastern Townships, where a new generation of vignerons is proving that serious, terroir-driven wine can be made in one of the world's most challenging climates. The name means "Pinard & Daughters," and the project is a family affair: wines made with conviction, humour, and a deep respect for the land they farm.

Royale is a red made from Marquette and Petite Perle — two cold-hardy hybrid varieties developed specifically for northern climates, capable of surviving Québec winters that would kill any vinifera vine. In the wrong hands, hybrids can produce wines that taste like compromise; in the hands of Pinard & Filles, they produce something genuinely compelling. Marquette brings structure, dark fruit, and a peppery, spiced character; Petite Perle adds freshness and aromatic lift. At 11.5% ABV the wine is light and precise, with the kind of energy and drinkability that makes it irresistible. Serve slightly cool alongside duck, aged Québec cheese, or a charcuterie board — and take a moment to appreciate that this wine exists at all.