Guided tours of the Drummondville area
Sunday, September 13, 2015

In 2014, we invited our members and friends for a tour of the vineyard Domaine des 3 Fûts in Drummondville, the orchard Duhaime in St-Germain and the cheese interpretation centre (Centre d’Interprétation du fromage) in St-Guillaume. 19 people attended this eventful day which went very well.

We had, I think, the worst weekend of the summer on the temperature point of view, but we were able to visit the outdoor vineyard of Richard Messier with a light drizzle at the end of the meeting. Richard explained the operation of his business from the vineyards to the finished product of the “cuvée des Messier”. The participants appreciated this first activity of the day that ended with a tasting of some wines served by Richard and his wife Jacinthe Morissette.

Before dining at Café Favori in St. Guillaume, several members stopped at the orchard Duhaime in St-Germain in order to stock up on apples and other products available.

At 14 pm, we went to the Cheese Interpretation Centre in St-Guillaume. François Darcy, Head of Interpretation Centre and his assistant, guided us to let us know that business that originated in 1940. Fifty dairy farmers in St-Guillaume came together to create the Société Coopérative Agricole de Beurrerie de St-Guillaume. Together, they built the cheese factory in Saint-Guillaume, a factory for production of butter and cheese. This company is champion all categories for its cheddar flavors. They transform beyond 24 million litres of milk per year in cheddar, brick, Monterey Jack, Swiss cheese and salty "twist" nammed “tortillon”. They serve mainly the Quebec, from Montreal to Quebec City and surrounding areas.

This company is now known as the Coop Agrilait. Then, they explained us the cheese manufacturing process. Some people volunteered to produce the wheels which were distributed to each of the 19 participants.

At 16 pm, everyone went back home (Dorval, St-Alexandre, Varennes, St-Hyacinthe, St-Ours, Sherbrooke, St-Marcel-de-Richelieu and St-Denis-de-Brompton) satisfied with this visit organized by the Association.

At the exit, we could feast with good soft ice cream. We were probably the last customers of the season at this kiosk.

The photos clearly show their attention during the visit.

Here are the comments of Sylvie Viens which are similar to other comments received verbally. "Thanks for the photos, I'll keep them and thank you for the beautiful day! Yvan and I thoroughly enjoyed and loved! "

 Réal Messier (85), responsible for the activity

A special Thanks of appreciation to Réal Messier for the organization of these visits.