Press release
Cowansville, July 26, 2023 –
MNA for Brome-Missisquoi, Isabelle Charest, presents the MNA's medal to Charles-Henri de Coussergues
It was at her constituency office in Cowansville that Ms. Isabelle Charest, MNA for Brome-Missisquoi and Minister of Sports, Recreation and the Outdoors, presented the MNA's medal to Mr. Charles-Henri de Coussergues, citizen of Dunham, winemaker, co-owner of Vignoble de l'Orpailleur and pioneer of viticulture in Quebec.
The ceremony, held on July 24, was punctuated by video testimonials from the Mayor of Dunham, Pierre Janecek, the Director General of the CLD and the MRC Brome-Missisquoi, Mélanie Thibault and the Member of Parliament for Berthier and Minister of Tourism, Caroline Proulx. The Premier of Quebec, François Legault, had also prepared a letter of congratulations for the attention of the winemaker.
The elected representative of Brome-Missisquoi spoke in these words to Charles-Henri de Coussergues, visibly moved to receive this honor. “I am giving you this medal to highlight your legacy to the region and to Quebec viticulture. It also symbolizes the community spirit, the notion of generosity and benevolence that characterize you. »
By awarding him this honour, Isabelle Charest wanted to highlight the winemaker's career and exceptional contribution to the influence of the county of Brome-Missisquoi, in Quebec, as well as internationally. She also wanted to recognize the remarkable contribution of Mr. de Coussergues to the development of wine tourism in Quebec.
Highlights:
- MNA for Brome-Missisquoi Isabelle Charest previously presented the medal of the National Assembly to:
- Sibylla Hesse and François Godbout in January 2023;
- Maxence Parrot in 2022;
- Louise Penny in 2019.
- The MNA's medal is traditionally awarded each year by MNAs to one or two people from their constituency who have a remarkable career and who promote the region and/or Québec. Consult the list of recipients of the Medal of the National Assembly
About Charles-Henri de Coussergues
- Son of a winegrower from the south of France and holder of a diploma in oenology viticulture, he has been directing the activities of the Vignoble de l'Orpailleur since 1982. This agrotourism site thus welcomes 30,000 to 35,000 visitors a year and includes a restaurant as well as than a vine and wine economuseum. It is now one of the largest vineyards in Quebec with 46 hectares of vines and 300,000 bottles per year.
- A founding member of the Association des Vignerons du Québec, he was its president from 2008 to 2016 and is a director and vice-president of the Conseil des vins d'appellation du Québec.
- He is Grand Master of the noble Confrérie des Vignerons du Québec and a member of the College of Wine Ambassadors in Quebec.
- From 2019 to 2023 he was president of the Association of Agrotourism and
Quebec Gourmet Tourism. - In November 2022, the Institute of Tourism and Hospitality of Quebec awarded him an honorary degree.
- The year 2022 marked the 40 years of Charles-Henri de Coussergues in the field of wine in Quebec.
Source :
Maryse Dubois
Press Officer
Constituency office of the Member for Brome-Missisquoi maryse.dubois@assnat.qc.ca
450.266.7410 #81311
