Les Vallons de Wadleigh: A Fresh Breeze from the Next Generation
Since 2008, Les Vallons de Wadleigh vineyard has been a source of joy for residents of Ulverton, a small village in Quebec’s Eastern Townships. Its terrace also attracts many visitors from Drummondville and Sherbrooke, who make the trip to enjoy delicious wines while admiring the stunning view — sometimes accompanied by live music from a local singer-songwriter.
Before becoming a vineyard, the land acquired by the Lacroix-Dagenais family hosted a different agricultural venture: a sheep farm. Michel Dagenais and Véronique Lacroix had long dreamed of leaving city life behind for the countryside. Their first project lasted a few years before they transitioned to something new — they traded their flock for vines!
“We were looking for a project that was a bit less demanding than raising animals year-round,” recalls Véronique Lacroix. “So my husband started the vineyard with a neighbor, just for fun.”
“They still went ahead and planted 14,000 vines of Frontenac and Marquette — just for fun!” laughs their daughter Léonie, who was still a child when her parents converted the sheep barn into a winery, boutique, and tasting room. The vineyard welcomed its first visitors in 2012.
Léonie spent most of her teenage summers working in the fields. Like many young adults, she went off to explore other paths before returning home to fully commit to the vineyard.
“I went to Montreal to do my bachelor’s degree in Industrial Relations. It was during the pandemic that I felt the pull to come back,” says the 26-year-old. “I realized that working at the vineyard was the lifestyle I wanted — connecting with the land, working outdoors. It became clear: this is where I belong.”
A Breath of Innovation
Her parents, thrilled to have a successor, welcomed her into their once-couple project, which has since grown into a true family endeavor.
“Léonie really brought a fresh perspective to the vineyard,” her mother explains. “She convinced us to rework our brand identity, redesign our labels, and she even developed a new wine line called ‘Les Éphémères,’ featuring her own experimental cuvées. These changes helped us attract a new clientele. She’s the one who came up with the idea to produce an orange wine — which turned out to be a huge hit, not just with younger customers, much to my surprise!”
Léonie is now in charge of vineyard operations and winemaking. Her mother still handles agrotourism and marketing, while her father manages administration. Both parents continue to pitch in during harvest season or bottling days.
To deepen her knowledge, Léonie spent a lot of time in the fields with a family of winemakers from Burgundy who worked at the vineyard. She’s also supported by a network of oenologists who assist her in the winery. That said, her own vision is clearly reflected in the cuvées of Les Vallons de Wadleigh.
“When I first got involved, we only made four wines. But I wanted to create products that reflected who I am. I’m a fan of natural wines, so I decided to develop that approach here. In the vineyard, for example, we work as if we were certified organic — we work better with the land.”
Among the wines Léonie has developed is a new sparkling wine made using the traditional method, from Frontenac Blanc, aged on lees for 18 months, with no dosage — brut and natural.
“Everything she’s tried has worked,” says Véronique proudly.
But it was Michel — Léonie’s father and Véronique’s partner — who had the idea a few years ago to plant 1,000 Riesling vines, with their first vintage set to be released this year.
“I’ve always been team hybrids because I think they really reflect our terroir. But Riesling — a vinifera grape — was a revelation!” says Léonie, who mostly works with Frontenac Blanc, Gris and Noir, Marquette, Acadie, Vidal, and Saint-Pépin.
Today, Les Vallons de Wadleigh is open to the public for about six months each year. Of the 20,000 bottles produced annually, about half are sold at the vineyard, while the rest are distributed to specialty shops, fine grocery stores, and SAQ outlets.
