Our history

Creators of traditions since 1982

“The gold digger is someone who washes the auriferous alluvium to extract, through time, science and patience, the gold flakes found there. Thus, for the first time in Quebec, winegrowers have put science, patience and the time needed to extract from Quebec soil a dry wine, unique in every respect, from a grape variety planted and harvested here, and its grapes vinified in the vineyard in the best tradition. - Gilles Vigneault

The adventure of four enthusiasts

From this seemingly ungrateful land, land of rocks and weeds, we have rooted our convictions, our determination, our love of the profession in order to extract a beautiful story that we bottle year after year and which improves with time.

About our wines

Winegrowers, from fathers to daughters and sons

Herve Durand
CO-OWNER WINEGROWER

Discovering Quebec in 1981, he decided to create his first vineyard there outside of France. With his agricultural, oenological and economic training, his experience as a winemaker at the Château des Tourelles in the Costières de Nîmes region in France, he bought the Dunham property which would become the Vignoble de l'Orpailleur. L'Orpailleur which, with its friends and founding partners, is still the leader of Quebec vineyards.
Charles-Henri de Coussergues
CO-OWNER WINEGROWER

Son of a winegrower from the south of France and holder of a diploma in oenology viticulture, Charles-Henri has been directing the activities of the Vineyard since 1982. 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 de l'Agrotourisme et du Tourisme Gourmand du Québec.
Frank Furtado
CO-OWNER

The entertainment world holds no secrets for Frank Furtado. The scope of his accomplishments reflects his distinguished career. He notably directed the opening and closing ceremonies of the Montreal Olympic Games in 1976 and he is at the origin of the Montreal International Fireworks Competition; today known as the International des Feux Loto-Québec. Frank has produced countless shows and managed the careers of several renowned artists, including Gilles Vigneault.
Pierre Rodrigue
CO-OWNER

A seasoned and recognized manager in the fields of culture, communications and the media, Pierre Rodrigue is responsible for the contractual and legal management of L'Orpailleur. Curious, gourmet, epicurean, fond of human stories, he calls himself the guardian of the soul of the company and watches over the history of the pioneers and founders. Pierre Rodrigue is Vice-President Bell in Quebec.
Maude Furtado
ADMINISTRATOR

Dynamic successor and proud successor of her father Frank, Maude is the general manager of the largest pyrotechnic firm in Canada: GFA Pyro. His mandates lead him to travel to the four corners of the planet. This Quebec globetrotter has acquired enviable expertise in the analysis of the pyrotechnic and wine markets. Involved from the cradle in the history of the Vignoble de l'Orpailleur, it greatly contributes to its influence.
Guilhem Durand
ADMINISTRATOR

Active since the creation of the Vignoble l'Orpailleur, he is from the generation that carries the vineyard. With an agricultural, oenological and commercial background, he manages the Château des Tourelles and the Château de Quillanet in Corbières in France. It is very present in Quebec, and works in particular with the BMT agency to promote Les Tourelles wines in the SAQ network.

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Succession

In the vineyard, the winemaker Charles-Henri de Coussergues works with two of his daughters, Sarah and Laure de Coussergues as well as his son-in-law Alain Bazinet. His grandchildren are also very happy to be involved in the vineyard, particularly in the quality control of the grape juice.