Wine Tasting on Île d’Orléans: Top Wineries Near Québec City
Did you know there’s an island full of wineries near Québec City? Just a short drive away, Île d’Orléans is where you’ll find crisp whites, refreshing rosés, and even Québec’s famous ice wine. Vineyards share the island with orchards and farms, so there’s plenty to snack on between tastings.
Île d’Orléans is less than 20 minutes from downtown, but it feels like you’ve gone much farther. One moment you’re in the heart of the city. The next, you’re driving past farm stands, berry fields, and rows of vines stretching down to the St. Lawrence River.
Sip on a glass of sparkling with waterfall views. Dig into a buttery lobster roll with a side of poutine. Then, end the day with a sunset and soft serve made from local blackcurrants.
As a certified wine expert from New England, I’ve traveled to Québec many times. And on my latest trip, I spent the day exploring the island’s wineries. Here’s where I recommend sipping, snacking, and stopping along the way.
Thanks to Destination Québec cite and Bonjour Québec for hosting me. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Vignoble Ste-Pétronille
If you’re looking for great wines paired with Neapolitan-style pizzas, Vignoble Ste-Pétronille is the spot. The Denault family has owned the winery since 2003, and all three of their children are now involved in the business.
They farm organically across 25 acres, with everything estate-grown, hand-harvested, and made with a low-intervention approach. The focus is on dry whites like Pinot Gris, Riesling, Chardonnay, and hybrid varieties such as Acadie. They also make rosé, red, and sparkling wines.
We grabbed a table on the terrace, which overlooks vineyards that stretch out as far as the eye can see. I tried several of their wines and was impressed with the quality. My favorite was the Saison Terrasse, which fittingly translates to “terrace season.” It’s a rosé made from Marquette with bright acidity and fresh watermelon and strawberry notes.
To top it off, we shared the Nduja pizza with tomato sauce, basil, and creamy burrata. It paired perfectly with the wines and made the visit one of the most memorable of the trip.
Vignoble Ste-Pétronille, 8705 Chem. Royal, Sainte-Pétronille, QC
Cassis Monna & Filles
For something completely different from the usual winery stop, head to Cassis Monna & Filles. This spot specializes in all things blackcurrant, from wines and spirits to jellies and even soft serve.
It’s run by sisters Catherine and Anne, daughters of founder Bernard, who expanded the property with a restaurant and turned it into one of the island’s top destinations. During our tasting, we learned that Bernard chose blackcurrants because they thrive in Québec’s cold climate, which creates a long ripening season.
I started with a chilled sparkling sangria made with blackcurrant wine, perfect for a sunny day. From there, we tasted a lineup of their wines. They’re not your typical grape wines. Most lean on the sweeter side, and would be great for cocktails. They even make a port-style dessert wine.
One standout was their Crème de Cassis, a liqueur which consistently wins awards. And the finale was the blackcurrant and vanilla soft serve drizzled with cassis liqueur. Honestly one of the best things I tasted on the island. I couldn’t leave without picking up a jar of their blackcurrant wine jelly to take home.
Cassis Monna & Filles, 1225 Chem. Royal, Saint-Pierre, QC
Vignoble de l’isle de Bacchus
I didn’t get a chance to visit Vignoble de l’Isle de Bacchus myself, but it’s one of the most recommended stops on the island for its great wines, river views, and tasty cheese boards. Plus, they’re one of the few places open until December.
Founded in 1982, it’s the oldest winery in the Québec City area. The name comes from the island’s original title, given after Jacques Cartier discovered wild grapes here.
Today, owners Carole and Steve (who took over in 2017) farm 11 hectares of vineyards planted to cold-climate hybrids like Vidal, Marquette, Frontenac, and Acadie. The lineup leans toward dry whites. But you’ll also find rosé, red, sparkling, ice wine, and sangria on the menu.
The setting includes a rustic barn-turned-shop and a covered patio overlooking the river. In summer, they host country suppers with seven courses paired to their wines. And during fall, you can even sign up to participate in the harvest.
Vignoble de l’isle de Bacchus, 1335 Chem. Royal, Saint-Pierre, QC
Saint-Pierre Le Vignoble
Saint-Pierre Le Vignoble is one of the newer wineries on the island, but they’ve already won awards for their wines. And it’s hard to beat the views of Montmorency Falls right from their patio.
The property was a berry farm before co-owners Jacques Blouin and Christiane Grégoire planted vineyards in 2013. And the tasting room opened its doors in 2019.
They focus on dry-style wines, with whites, rosé, reds, an orange wine, and a traditional-method sparkling made from hybrid varieties like Frontenac, Acadie, and Marquette.
The winery is set in a restored 1935 barn with a modern farmhouse feel. Outside, there’s a large patio and lawn with picnic tables. In summer, it’s the perfect spot to sip wine and enjoy one of their gourmet platters, with creative ingredients like duck ham and rhubarb chutney or smoked salmon and mussels on a bed of cream.
Saint-Pierre Le Vignoble, 1007 Chem. Royal, Saint-Pierre, QC
Where to Eat on Île d’Orléans
Île d’Orléans is known for its farms and local products. Between the wineries, you’ll pass roadside stands piled with fresh produce, fields of berries, and plenty of spots to sample local specialties. It’s worth planning a couple of food stops into your route, not just to break up the tastings, but to get a real taste of the island. Here are two I recommend.
Chez Mag
If you’re looking for lunch between wineries, Chez Mag is a must. About 10 minutes up the road, this seasonal spot (open May through October) is famous for two things: lobster rolls and poutine. And honestly, you can’t go wrong with either.
As a lobster-obsessed New Englander, I can say their roll is one of the best I’ve had. It comes heaping with sweet claw and tail meat, fresh arugula, and perfectly toasted buttery bread. They even do a lobster poutine if you want to combine both of their signature dishes in one bite.
The poutine here went viral after a local influencer raved about it. And I understood the hype when I bit into those squeaky-fresh curds for the first time. You’ll also find burgers, hot dogs, and ice cream made with fruit and milk from neighboring farms. Plus, local beer and wine to wash it down.
Pro Tip: Lines can get long, but you can skip the wait by ordering online ahead of time and picking up at the window. Then, grab a picnic table on the hill behind the stand, where you can enjoy your meal with a view.
Chez Mag, 2460 Chem. Royal, Sainte-Famille, QC
OhBio
For a break between tastings, OhBio is a great stop on the southeastern side of the island. It’s just five minutes from most of the wineries.
From June to October, you can swing by for a coffee, snack, and organic produce between wineries. The terrace overlooks the river, which makes it an especially nice spot on a sunny day.
OhBio grows all kinds of strawberries. But if you see the Laurel variety, definitely try them. I found them to be a little sweeter than other varieties. Plus, depending on the season, they also offer pick-your-own strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries.
OhBio, 7441 Chem. Royal, Saint-Laurent-de-l’Île-d’Orléans, QC
Québec City Winery Tours
If you’d rather let someone else handle the planning (and the driving), there are a couple of wine tour options to choose from.
- Small-Group Afternoon Wine Tasting Tour – You’ll visit three wineries, including Île de Bacchus, with transport and tastings included. Perfect if you want a relaxed, wine-focused afternoon.
- E-Bike & Wine Tasting Tour – For something a little more active, hop on an e-bike and pedal your way around the island. Along the route, you’ll stop at Saint-Pierre Le Vignoble, plus a microbrewery, chocolate factory, strawberry stand, and local farms. Great if you want wine and a taste of everything Île d’Orléans is known for.
🚌 Book the Small-Group Wine Tour
🚲 Book the E-Bike Tasting Tour
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Where to Stay in Québec City
I recommend staying in Québec City and planning a day trip out to Île d’Orléans for the wineries. This way, you can explore Old Québec, and you’ll have plenty of restaurants, shops, and history right outside your door. Here are two great options depending on your style:
- Château Frontenac – Known as the most photographed hotel in the world, this landmark sits high on the hill overlooking the river. If you’re looking for a luxury stay with iconic views, this is the spot.
- Hotel Clarendon – Just down the street from Château Frontenac, this boutique mid-range hotel offers a central location without the splurge. I stayed here and loved being steps from Old Québec’s restaurants and sights. My room also looked out over City Hall, which was especially pretty at night with the fountains and building all lit up.
🏨 Book the Château Frontenac
🏨 Book the Hotel Clarendon
FAQs About Québec City Wineries
The island is best known for crisp whites, rosés, and sparkling wines from cold-climate hybrid grapes, along with fruit wines like blackcurrant. Ice wine (Vin de Glace du Québec) is also a regional specialty. The grapes are left to freeze naturally on the vine and picked by hand, which makes it something unique to try here.
Thanks to the island’s microclimate created by the St. Lawrence River, the vineyards get a long frost-free season from mid-May through October, giving the grapes plenty of time to ripen.
On labels, look for the IGP Vin du Québec designation, which means the wine meets strict standards and is made entirely from Québec-grown grapes.
The wineries are open seasonally, so plan for late spring through early fall. Summer is great for green vineyards and outdoor patios. Fall brings harvest, farm stands overflowing with apples and pumpkins, and colorful foliage.
French is the primary language in Québec, but I found that many winery and hotel staff speak English, especially in tourist-friendly areas. A few basic phrases or a translation app can go a long way.
The island is less than a 20-minute drive from downtown Québec City, and the route takes you right past Montmorency Falls (which, fun fact, is taller than Niagara). Most of the wineries are just over the bridge on the main road that loops around the island. So, it’s simple to navigate by car.
If you don’t have a car, there’s no public transportation on the island. You could try Uber, but wait times may be long since drivers usually come from the city or surrounding area. A tour is the easiest option if you’d rather not drive.
Most wineries on Île d’Orléans are seasonal, typically open from late spring through early fall. A couple extend later in the season, but winter tastings are rare. Since hours and seasons can vary, I always recommend checking each winery’s schedule before you go.
Tasting fees are pretty affordable compared to many other wine regions. It’s usually about $10–15 CAD for a flight of wines.
Keep Exploring Québec’s Wine Country
Île d’Orléans is the perfect wine lover day trip from Québec City, with crisp wines, local bites, and plenty of views along the way. If you’re looking to explore even more of Québec’s wine scene, don’t miss my guide to Southern Québec wineries. It covers the Eastern Townships, Montérégie, and Centre-du-Québec, regions full of wine routes, farm-to-table dining, and Nordic-style spas.
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