{"id":6465,"date":"2026-03-23T10:50:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T14:50:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.laroutedesvins.ca\/hivernation-gel-printanier\/"},"modified":"2026-04-07T09:26:25","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T13:26:25","slug":"hivernation-gel-printanier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.laroutedesvins.ca\/en\/hivernation-gel-printanier\/","title":{"rendered":"Overcoming Qu\u00e9bec\u2019s Climate: Techniques for Overwintering and Managing Spring Frost"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Laurence-Mich\u00e8le Dufour<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Quebec, cultivating grapes is an extreme sport. And although our bitterly cold winters pose a threat to their survival, the wine industry continues to experience phenomenal growth. While some hardier grape varieties can withstand winter frosts down to -35 degrees Celsius, the vast majority are at risk as soon as the thermometer drops to -20 degrees Celsius. When vintners choose to plant vines in such a hostile climate, they know they\u2019ll have to come to terms with this reality.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To protect more vulnerable varieties, the two main techniques that have proven effective are hilling up and using geotextile covers. In both cases, snow is a key ally in providing additional insulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hilling Up<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

At the Val Caudalies<\/a> vineyard in Dunham, Guillaume Leroux, a devoted fan of the Vidal variety, doesn\u2019t use geotextile covers. When he planted his first vines 20 years ago, this technique was still in its earliest stages. Hilling up, which involves covering the base of the vine with earth in the autumn to protect the shoots and the vine stocks, became the method of choice. \u201cWe borrowed the hilling machine from L\u2019Orpailleur to copy it and recreate the same tool. It\u2019s not something you can buy off the shelf; you have to have it all made to order,\u201d explains Guillaume. Qu\u00e9bec winemakers have long had to be creative in developing tools suited to their circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to him, his vineyard’s very sandy soil is ideally suited to this method: \u2018We’ve seen very clayey soils where, when you build up the soil around the vines, it’s like rolls of plasticine \u2013 it doesn’t work; you can’t cover the vines properly.\u2019 The varieties that his partners and he have chosen to plant (including Vidal, which accounts for 75% of their production) thrive when buried beneath the soil.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hilling up at Vignoble Val Caudalies<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guillaume points out, however, that certain more delicate grape varieties could suffer from hill mounding. With the introduction of geotextile fabrics into Quebec\u2019s vineyard landscape, it became possible to grow grape varieties less suited to our climate, such as the famous Vitis vinifera. The winemaker considered making the switch, but the exorbitant costs involved in transitioning to this method do not seem worth the effort for him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Geotextile Covers<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

When Andr\u00e9 Pollender of the Vignoble du PicBois<\/a> in Brigham began planting vines on his maple grove in 2019, the wine scene in Qu\u00e9bec had already changed significantly. He was able to draw on the experience of his fellow winemakers, whose progress has been spectacular over the past few decades. His numerous trips to Europe to promote his sugar shack’s maple syrup have also helped shape his career path.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Passionate about Syrah grapes, he decided to take a bold step and was one of the pioneers who dared to plant this variety here. \u201cWe decided to go all out to develop the wines we wanted to create. We knew which grapes we wanted. Therefore, we carried out our trials with more fragile varieties, which held up very well,\u201d says the winemaker, clearly thrilled to have overcome this challenge. When designing his vineyard, every effort was made to facilitate the installation of geotextile coverings, a process requiring time, labour, equipment and storage space.<\/p>\n\n\n