OUR STORY | ESTATE MAP | WINE | TEAM
Our story
Once upon a time…
There lived the late Henriette Antony, the original owner and visionary of this estate. Born in southern Moravia, Antony was surrounded by vineyards and century-old architecture before she immigrated to Canada as a teenager in 1949. This Montreal antique store owner continued to dream – she was set out to recreate a piece of her European heritage. Her vision started with a small stone chapel.
One fine day, she called on European-trained craftsmen to bring her vision into reality – By the time she was finished, she’d created a terraced vineyard, two villas, two small lakes and a castle complete with a grand ballroom, underground wine cellars and tasting rooms built into the hillside. The results of her project were reminiscent of her homeland in what was once Czechoslovakia. Cobblestone paths, murals, carved woodwork and mosaics which provide decorative touches evocative of the Middle Ages.
Her life was marked by creativity and passion for antiques. Coming to work on the property was her weekend refuge where she gradually added multiple structures and the vineyard, becoming known as Chapelle Ste-Agnès after the stone chapel.
Although she passed away in 2015 at the age of 82, Henrietta’s legacy lives on as we continue to showcase her magical chateau estate and share her incredible story with all who come through our doors. We hope you fall in love with this enchanting place as much as we did!
With new ownership as of spring 2022, offering a second life to the estate under the name of Château Ste-Agnès, our philosophy is to pay homage to what was here and to showcase the beauty of this place while keeping integrity of the land.
Château Ste-Agnès cannot be solely explained nor captured in a picture, it needs to be lived and felt.
The End
(…Actually, it’s just the beginning)
Château Ste-Agnès cannot be solely explained nor captured in a picture, it needs to be lived and felt.
Wine
We are each vine, each grape, each sip of wine.
We Care
From day one when the vineyard was developed, it was done in a way to be as harmonious with the environment as possible, preserving the biodiversity of our land and using sustainable agricultural methods. The grape varieties that have been planted were chosen because that is what our cold climate allows for. We only use organic methods of maintaining our vines & no chemical sprays. Mother earth runs the show here, every season is different and this is reflected in our wines.
Small batch
We are a boutique vineyard driven by love and our natural curiosity to innovate. Our wine is made through a combination of care & patience, the grapes are hand-picked, the fermentation is done in small batches, and the aging process is carefully monitored, resulting in wines that have personality and soul. Due to our limited production, we offer our wines exclusively in our boutique shop. Come hang out and take some home.
Old School
We make wine the traditional way. We use a traditional single-stake growing method that goes back to the good ‘ol Roman times. Our 18 terraces of vines were set up this way to make cultivation easier on our 30 degree steep slope. This method is extremely labour-intensive and does not allow for any mechanization, it is one of the most challenging but also charming features of our vineyard and (we think) it makes each drop of wine taste that much better.
Artisanal
All of our vintages are lovingly hand-crafted – the process from start to finish is done by us in house, from hand picking, pressing, to bottling. The result is a unique and complex wine that reflects the land, the year and the winemaker’s craftsmanship.
Your hosts
Propelled by our mutual love for travel, wine, and design.
Julien Lavallée
Brother-in-law to Steffany. Passionate human.
A true lover of life and what one may call a serial entrepreneur, Julien saw the purchase of the vineyard as a way to marry many of his passions into one amazing project.
When he’s finally taking some time off, you’ll find Julien spending time with his growing family, travelling, discovering good wine & food and playing tennis.
Favorite wine
Pinot noir from France.
Steffany Grew
Sister-in-law to Julien. Partner of Alex. Creative Soul.
Historically speaking, Steffany worked in weddings and events and always dreamt of having her own space one day to bring people together. She loves creating intentional spaces for people. In 2013, after having planned her sister’s & Julien’s wedding, Julien hinted that if the right time and place manifested itself, he would like to one day collaborate… et voila, here we are!
Steffany now oversees the experiences and events on the estate and is committed to living out the legacy of the late Henrietta Antony – the visionary behind the vineyard by continuing to infuse magic into the space, to invite people to gather & experience all of its beauty.
When not overseeing events on the grounds you will find her doing yoga and travelling which gets all her creative juices flowing!
Favorite wine
Natural wines, specifically a good glass of orange wine.
Alex Surdu
Life (& wine) partner of Steffany. Wine-loving Sailor.
Wine has been a passion of Alex’s for many years; some of his earliest childhood memories are of his father fermenting grapes. Through the years he has grown his appreciation for wine having toured top producing regions around the globe and later working as a sales rep for top winemakers in Australia.
But it was a few years ago on a romantic trip in the Okanagan where he and Steffany dreamt up running a winery one day… and here we are – a vision truly manifested! He brings his worldly easy-going attitude to the team and is looking forward to bringing people together on this breathtaking slice of earth.
When not looking after the property you will find him sailing somewhere in the world, most likely in the Caribbean or Mediterranean.
Favorite wine
Barossa Valley Shiraz although lately he has been enjoying local natural wines that Steffany has been introducing him to.
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