It all began in 2013 when Charles Goulet and Chantal Ouellette, a passionate and enterprising couple, decided to buy land at 1500 Gaspé Road in Brigham, in the Eastern Townships. At the time, the land was mainly used for hay production, nothing spectacular, just an ordinary field.
Charles and Chantal had a very specific idea in mind: to create pear-based alcohol. They dreamed of transforming this plot of land into a specialized orchard. From 2015 to 2020, Charles patiently planted 1,843 pear trees of 10 different varieties. It was a long and arduous process: preparing the soil, choosing varieties adapted to the Quebec climate, and planting year after year. The project was ambitious, as pears are not the most common fruit for winemaking in Quebec.
In 2019, Chantal added a significant beekeeping component by installing hives. The initial objective was practical: to encourage pollination of the orchard. But very quickly, they discovered the exceptional quality of the honey produced in this terroir. The first summer of beekeeping confirmed that they were on a remarkable site. Honey quickly became a complementary pillar of their production.
The family is fully involved. They have children, including Émile, who grew up surrounded by pear trees and beehives. In 2022, a dramatic incident demonstrated how deeply the business is rooted in their daily lives: during a honey sale at the orchard, Charles was stung by a bee (despite not being known to be allergic). On the way home, he lost consciousness at the wheel. His son Émile, then nine years old, displayed extraordinary composure: he climbed onto his father's lap, braked, and safely parked the truck on the shoulder. Chantal arrived quickly and administered the EpiPen. Charles was unharmed, and this event further strengthened the family bonds around the estate.
In 2023, after years of work, patience, and experimentation, they finally launched their first commercial products: the pear wine "Repère du siffleux" (Whistleman's Lookout) and the ice perry "Regard de glace" (Ice Gaze). They then developed original fortified perries such as "Veillée éternelle" (Eternal Vigil) and "Carosse du diable" (Devil's Carriage), which distinguished themselves in the market.
Today, Domaine Pyrus is a family business on a human scale. They welcome visitors for tastings, explaining the entire process from blossom to bottle. Their philosophy is simple: quality, innovation, and sharing, on a terroir they have literally created with their own hands.
This is the beautiful and inspiring story of a successful transformation: from a hayfield to a unique orchard dedicated to pears, driven by passion, hard work, and a united family.
