May 4-14 is Quebec’s 7th annual Cider Week, and two Valley cideries will be celebrating with various activities for cider connoisseurs. Ferme Black Creek and Verger Hemmingford will be showing off their products and promoting this province-wide occasion at their orchards.
Denis Rousseau of Ferme Black Creek explains that they have two activities planned: “There will be guided tours of the domain and the cider house, and also our Brut cider will be on promotion at Diese Onze jazz bar [in Montreal] during this week.” He describes the products offered at their farm as “entirely natural; no pesticides are used, and we work by protecting the biodiversity.”
Though Verger Hemmingford has closed its doors to the public for visits since 2018, it will be opening to take part in the festivities. Stephanie Beaudoin explains that they are planning a “cider hunt” on May 14 at 2 p.m. where guests will be invited to search the orchard for the farm’s LE CIDRE products. Participants may keep whatever they find. The event itself is free but registration is required, so Beaudoin recommends showing up early. “Verger Hemmingford grows its own apples [and] processes, cans and bottles them on site. The ciders of the LE CIDRE line are authentic Quebec products, produced by craftsmen, [and are] vegan and gluten-free,” she explains.
These events are a great way to get the message out about Quebec ciders and local producers. Beaudoin explains that “We should drink cider first because it’s good and refreshing. It’s versatile [there are many types of ciders], it’s truly local and specific to our territory.” Rousseau echoes these sentiments by saying, “I believe that cider is a beautiful product to discover; it offers so many possibilities.” He adds that Quebec Cider Week is “a great opportunity to discover the know-how of smaller producers like me.”
This year, Verger Hemmingford is trying out some new flavours: “We have some surprises in store for you this summer! Watch for the arrival of LE CIDRE Fleur [hibiscus flavoured] and LE CIDRE GinJan [ginger and pineapple flavoured] which will be on the shelves of our favourite grocers in a few weeks,” Beaudoin says. Rousseau adds that although Ferme Black Creek isn’t adding new flavours, it produces a unique cider that may not be found in many cideries in the region. “We specialize in ‘English’ ciders, so we experiment with apple varieties that are rare in Quebec but common in the UK.”
You can find Ferme Black Creek’s products at the farm, at the Huntingdon County Farmers’ Market, and at some specialized grocery stores across the province. Verger Hemmingford’s LE CIDRE products are available in Hemmingford at the Marché Tradition and in many SAQs and grocery stores across the province. They are also available at some restaurants, including the Taverne de la Ferme in Ormstown.
