★ Gourmet tour
Île d'Orléans: winemakers, cider houses, and local producers
Twenty minutes from Old Quebec, Île d'Orléans is the province’s nourishing garden. Winemakers, cider makers, cheesemakers, and market gardeners have been cultivating exceptional flavors here for generations. A must-stop before heading to Carrera Café for a well-deserved espresso.
Île d'Orléans
Garden of New France
A 35-kilometer-long territory, crossed by six heritage villages, where farmers have been feeding Quebec since the 17th century.
Designated a historic district since 1970, Île d'Orléans is a happy anomaly in a fast-paced world. Here, orchards line the river, vines climb the hillsides, and strawberry fields scent the air from June to August. The island’s six municipalities, from Sainte-Pétronille to Saint-François-de-l'Île-d'Orléans, form a natural gourmet route affectionately called the Route of Flavors by Quebecers.
For lovers of authentic products and grand landscapes, Île d'Orléans is the perfect stop before or after a day in Old Quebec. Crossing the bridge, following the river, and stopping at a cider house or vineyard: that’s a plan that would make any Grand Prix driver in search of quality fuel smile.
Winemakers
Viticulture in northern lands
Against all odds, Île d'Orléans produces wines that fully deserve attention. Cold-resistant grape varieties, favorable microclimates, and a passion for craftsmanship make all the difference.
Isle de Bacchus Vineyard
Founded in 1982, Isle de Bacchus is the pioneering winery of Île d'Orléans. Their Vandal-Cliche, Maréchal Foch, and Seyval Blanc grape varieties give rise to expressive wines, marked by the river's terroir. The cellar tour and tasting in the panoramic room offer a breathtaking view of the Saint Lawrence.
Sainte-Pétronille Vineyard
Nestled at the western tip of the island, this vineyard benefits from an exceptional microclimate created by the confluence of the Saint Lawrence and Montmorency rivers. Their summer blends and artisanal ice wines are the pride of the Quebec region.
Cideries
The island's liquid gold
Apple trees in bloom in spring, orchards heavy with fruit in autumn: Île d'Orléans is Quebec's capital of apples and artisanal cider, with expressions ranging from dry to sparkling and the enchanting ice cider.
Bilodeau Cider House
Since 1988, the Bilodeau family has been turning apples from their century-old orchard into exceptional ciders. Their ice cider, harvested in January when the apples have undergone the terroir's natural freeze, is recognized among the best in the world. A must-visit for any Quebec terroir enthusiast.
Domaine Steinbach
Founded by a passionate family, Domaine Steinbach produces fine ciders and apple wines with complex aromas. Their biodynamic approach and respect for the terroir yield sincere products, reflecting a preserved island. The on-site shop also offers artisanal preserves and jellies.
Cidrerie du Bout de l'Île
At the eastern tip of the island, Cidrerie du Bout de l'Île produces its ciders in a remote setting where the river seems to touch the horizon. Their dry sparkling cider, perfect for appetizers, and their flavored ciders made with local berries are true island delights.
Verger Bilodeau (shop)
A perfect complement to the cidery, the Verger Bilodeau shop overflows with derivative products: apple butters, jellies, cider vinegars, and fine spirits. A gourmet stop that lets you bring a bit of the island home, like a liquid souvenir of a perfect weekend.
Local producers
Market gardeners, strawberry growers, and much more
Beyond the vineyards and apple orchards, the island is full of small producers who have been supplying Quebec's top restaurants for generations. Strawberries, blackcurrants, herbs, heritage vegetables: the pantry is endless.
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★Strawberries from Île d'Orléans: The island's strawberries are a Quebec legend. Harvested at peak ripeness in June and July, they are nothing like industrial varieties. Several producers like Les Fraises Louis Fortier welcome visitors for self-picking in fields along the river.
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❖Cassis Monna et Filles: Founded by the Monna family, this artisanal company produces some of Quebec's most renowned blackcurrant liqueurs and creams. Their Orléans Blackcurrant Cream is exported as far as Europe. The tasting shop is a must-stop on the route of flavors.
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✦La Boulangerie Guérin: Sourdough bread, island berry brioche, country-style galettes: Boulangerie Guérin carries on ancient baking traditions in a wood-fired oven. Their breads have been feeding the tables of Old Quebec and island picnics for years.
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★Chocolaterie des Pères Trappistes de Mistassini (island shop): While the Trappists are based in Lac-Saint-Jean, their artisanal chocolate is found in several shops on the island. A must for lovers of pure cocoa and unadorned monastic confections.
Cheesemakers
The island's milk art
Île d'Orléans has a long cheese-making tradition. Its dairy artisans transform milk from local farms into distinctive cheeses, washed rind or bloomy rind, which are the pride of Quebec's tasting platters.
Île d'Orléans Cheese Dairy (old tradition)
The island's cheese-making tradition dates back to the time of colonization. Today, several artisanal cheese dairies continue this heritage with washed rind cheeses, fresh farm herb cheeses, and semi-firm cheeses that pair ideally with local ciders and wines.
The Cheeses of the Isle (local shops)
Several artisanal shops and grocery stores on the island offer selections of cheeses produced less than ten kilometers away. The proximity between the cow and the platter is a daily reality here, and the straightforward, unpretentious taste proves it with every bite.
★ Barista's tip
Ice cider, a perfect match with espresso
At Carrera Café, we love the unexpected pairing of a strong espresso with a few drops of ice cider from Île d'Orléans. The concentrated sweetness of the cider, with its notes of candied apple and honey, forms an exquisite counterpoint to the velvety bitterness of our coffee. A pairing worthy of a gastronomic podium, to try on your next visit to Petit-Champlain.
The Route of Flavors
Island gourmet circuit
The Route of Flavors of Île d'Orléans is a marked circuit that connects artisanal producers in a 67-kilometer loop around the island. One day is barely enough to taste everything.
Every spring, the Route des Saveurs officially opens its doors and kiosks multiply along the roadside. From the blooming orchard of Sainte-Pétronille to the dunes of Saint-François-de-l'Île-d'Orléans, each stop reveals a new face of Quebec terroir. The circuit is ideally traveled by car, by bike for the more athletic, or by shuttle from Quebec.
The seasons dictate the discoveries: asparagus and rhubarb in spring, strawberries and blackcurrants in summer, apples, ciders, and squash in autumn. Each visit to the island is different from the last, and that’s its charm. The kiosks of Cassis Monna et Filles, l'Isle de Bacchus, and la Cidrerie Bilodeau are the most popular stops, often crowded on autumn weekends.
Prestige Selection
The best pairings from Île d'Orléans
To take home or enjoy on site: our suggestions to create a complete island gastronomic experience.
Ice cider + Carrera platter
A glass of Bilodeau ice cider accompanying our platter of Organic Charlevoix charcuterie and fine cheeses: a marriage of local flavors with absolute harmony, to be experienced at Carrera Café.
Island day + Carrera Café
The perfect circuit: morning on Île d'Orléans (vineyard, cider house, strawberry farm), return late afternoon to Old Quebec, and dinner at Carrera Café with a tight espresso to finish. A champion’s program worthy of the most demanding paddock.
Return to Quebec
The final pit stop in Petit-Champlain
After a day exploring Île d'Orléans, nothing beats an espresso at Carrera Café to close the loop beautifully.
Crossing the Île d'Orléans bridge in the late afternoon, luggage filled with ice cider and artisanal cheeses, with the sun setting over the Saint Lawrence: this image perfectly sums up the art of living in Quebec. And like any good driver returning to the garage after a perfect race, Carrera Café awaits you in Petit-Champlain for the final pit stop.
Our Podium coffee, a full-bodied espresso with notes of hazelnut and cocoa, echoes the intense flavors of the island terroir you just explored. Accompanied by a platter of Organic Charlevoix Charcuterie and cheeses from local artisans, it beautifully concludes a day marked by authenticity and taste.
★ Your next stop
From the island to the cup
Tight espresso, gourmet platter, paddock atmosphere: Carrera Café is your favorite pit stop in Old Quebec after every beautiful getaway.
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