CULTIVATING COLLABORATION

Unique in Quebec, and most certainly in the world, according to its leader, Vignes en ville has the advantage of being replicable. “It’s easy to launch everywhere”, she says, adding that the grape varieties used – on the advice of Richard Bastien, President of the Canadian Association of Oenologists – are already widely grown in Quebec. Véronique Lemieux also emphasizes the collaborative dimension of the structure, which does not exclude opening it up to groups of citizens looking to benefit from the OBNL’s material to vinify their own production. “It opens up opportunities of r collaboration. We have already received requests from people who would like to take advantage of our equipment”, she says.

EXPORTING ITS MODEL

When it comes to her development ambitions, Véronique Lemieux is not betting on an excessive expansion, knowing that the five vineyards under her responsibility in Montreal already represent a lot of work on a daily basis, especially for one person. That being said, a 6th site is currently under consideration (and even a 7th later on) to consolidate the work in progress. “A public appeal has been launched”, says the figurehead of Vignes en ville, who is not against the idea of an additional aerial vineyard in the District Central, which has an excellent card to play in urban agriculture.

Marketing is also not in the plans, for the simple reason that the marginal production of Vignes en ville [currently about 100 bottles per year] is part of a research project. “It is possible that tastings may be organized for specific events”, suggests this new kind of farmer in conscious osmosis with today’s environmental concerns.

Véronique Lemieux aspires, in any case, to consolidate what she has built, determined to share her experience and knowledge, keeping in mind future partnerships abroad, starting with France, the country of wine by excellence, where she already has some contacts. She would be open to gateways with Europe, even if this objective is still unclear in her mind. “I am available for collaborations in the medium term”, she says, dreaming one day of managing a “a small-scale, biointensive” vineyard, “where everything would be done by hand.”