Quebec Apple Orchards: Rougemont, Cider and Fall Markets

Quebec apple orchards cover the hills southeast of Montreal, and Rougemont, about an hour from the city, is the province's apple capital. From late August into October, with a peak in late September and early October, visitors pick their own, taste ciders and buy doughnuts. Leave early on a weekend or go on a weekday.

Where are Quebec apple orchards?

The densest cluster is in the Monteregie, around Rougemont, Saint-Paul-d'Abbotsford and Mont-Saint-Gregoire. Orchards also grow on the Ile d'Orleans, near Quebec City, and in the Eastern Townships. Most are family businesses that sell at the farm, at roadside stands and at public markets.

Rougemont is the best-known stop, with a village centre and dozens of farms and cideries within a short drive. You need a car to reach most of them.

Orchard seasons shift with the weather from year to year, so look at each orchard's own page or call before you set out, and wear shoes that cope with wet grass. A weekday visit is calmer than a weekend, and it leaves more time to taste.

Rougemont apple picking: how it works

Pick-your-own, called autocueillette in French, lets you walk through the orchard with a bag and pay by the weight. Pick-your-own orchards in Rougemont list extras such as a picnic area, apple fritters, a cider bar and bistro, a mini farm and tractor rides. Listings often give no season dates and hours differ through the fall, so call each orchard before you go. The orchards are not named here, because each was found in one listing only.

Dates change with the harvest and the weather. Check each orchard's page, and expect lines on sunny weekends.

Quebec cider houses and cideries

Rougemont and the surrounding area have many cideries that make still, sparkling and ice ciders. Some offer pick-your-own apples and raspberries and tastings, some make a range of ciders including ice cider, some are listed with orchards, walking trails and tastings, and one has an organic orchard. The cideries are not named here, because each was found in one listing only: check each one's page.

Tastings are a pleasure, but the roads are rural. Choose a designated driver, or use a tour.

What is Quebec ice cider?

Ice cider (cidre de glace) is a dessert cider made from apples that are frozen, either on the tree or after picking, so that the juice is concentrated before it is pressed. It is sweet, with a bright acidity, and is served in small glasses with cheese, foie gras or dessert. Quebec is known as the home of the style, and many cideries sell bottles to take away.

Ice cider is usually sold in half-size bottles. It makes a good gift and keeps well.

What to eat at a Quebec orchard

Look for apple fritters and cider doughnuts, apple pie, apple butter, apple juice, jams, and fresh cider in jugs. Many orchards have a shop and a small bistro, where you can order a plate of local cheese or a hot meal. Picnic tables are common.

Varieties include McIntosh, Cortland, Spartan, Empire and Honeycrisp. Ask which are best for eating and which are best for baking.

Montreal fall farmers market: apples without the drive

If you cannot get to the country, Montreal's public markets sell Quebec apples and cider through the fall, along with squash, pumpkins, root vegetables and local cheese. The main markets are open most days of the week, and farm stands set up in neighbourhoods on weekends. Prices vary by variety and season.

Buy a bag of apples and a jug of cider, and make a pie that evening.

How do you plan a day trip from Montreal?

Leave early on a weekend, or go on a weekday, when the roads and orchards are quieter. The drive from Montreal takes about an hour. Wear boots, because orchard grass can be wet, and bring bags and a cooler. Many orchards charge an entry fee for a family, and some limit the number of visitors on busy days, so book a time slot online if the orchard offers one. Arriving a little before opening is a good way to have the rows to yourself.

Dress in layers. Fall mornings are cold and afternoons are warm. Bring water and a snack for children, and wipe the apples before you eat them. If you plan to pick a lot, ask how much a full bag weighs, and check the policy on eating while you pick, since some orchards allow a few tastes and others do not.

When is the season?

Apple picking runs from late August into October, with the peak in late September and early October. By late October, some orchards have closed, but cideries and shops stay open longer, often into December, and ice cider tastings continue through the winter. Check dates before you go.

Where should you go next?

For bread and pastries to go with cider, read the best bakeries in Montreal guide. For the dish Quebec is best known for, see the best poutine in Quebec City guide, and for a more distant harvest, the New Brunswick food guide. Every city is on the Canada guides page.

Cider, doughnuts and ice cider are best compared side by side. Download the Mosey app, rate what you taste at each orchard, and keep a Quebec list for next autumn.