Domaine Lafrance

What Domaine Lafrance does

Domaine Lafrance is a family-owned Quebec cidery and distillery founded in 1925, headquartered in Saint-Joseph-du-Lac in the Lower Laurentians. The company operates a 30-hectare estate that includes more than 13,000 apple trees spanning 20+ varieties, 4,000+ grapevines, and 2,000+ maple taps, integrating raw material cultivation, beverage production, and agritourism within a single vertically integrated operation. The company previously operated as Vergers Lafrance before rebranding to reflect its multi-vertical estate model.

The product portfolio spans artisanal ice ciders, sparkling ciders, and fruit ciders, alongside a spirits line introduced in 2013 that includes gin, brandy, vermouth, liqueurs, and eau-de-vie, with subsequent extensions into ready-to-drink cocktails. Distribution is anchored by the SAQ (Société des alcools du Québec) network since 2000 and complemented by an on-site boutique, a bistro, and seasonal agritourism experiences (apple picking, ice cider season, sugar season). Products carry Quebec certifications including Aliments du Québec, Pomme de qualité Québec, and Cidre du Québec.

Leadership remains in family hands: Éric Lafrance (grandson of the founder) is the owner, Julie Hubert is Vice-President, and Charles Lafrance is General Manager. The company employs approximately 8 staff and won the 2024 "Meilleur cidre" award from Vin d'ici Magazine. Revenue is not disclosed, and the business is privately held with no external funding rounds reported.

Name

Domaine Lafrance

Legal name

Domaine Lafrance

Website

https://domainelafrance.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1925

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Domaine Lafrance is a family-owned Quebec cidery and distillery founded in 1925, operating a 30-hectare estate with 13,000+ apple trees to produce artisanal ciders and craft spirits sold via SAQ distribution and on-site boutique, bistro, and agritourism channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisanal Cider and Spirits

NAICS

Distilleries (31214)

akta.pro primary industry

Cider & Perry Producers & Brands (CRADAIAE)

Keywords

• Artisanal cider production
• Apple brandy distillery
• Ice cider production
• Orchard agritourism
• Quebec craft spirits

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-Joseph-du-Lac

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. On-site Boutique and Retail Sales: Direct retail sales of artisanal ciders, spirits, apple products, and pastries through the year-round on-site boutique. Products include ice cider, sparkling ciders, rosé sparkling cider, spirits (gin, brandy, vermouth, liqueurs), apple juices, and maple products. Some products also sold through the SAQ provincial retail network.
2. Agrotourism and Seasonal Experiences: Revenue from site admission fees ($5/person), apple picking bags, and seasonal event participation (apple picking August–October, sugar season March–April, ice cider season January, blooming season May). The Bistro Lafrance generates food and beverage revenue during events and on weekends (Friday–Sunday, 11h–16h).
3. SAQ Wholesale Distribution: Products distributed through the SAQ (Société des alcools du Québec) provincial liquor monopoly, including ice cider, sparkling cider, rosé sparkling cider, and Quartier Lafrance. SAQ launch began in 2000.
4. Cidrerie | Distillery Tours and Tastings: Guided tours of the cidery and distillery with cider, aperitif, and spirit tastings are offered as part of the ice cider season experience (January), generating incremental experience-based revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Domaine Lafrance is an artisanal cidery and distillery that produces ice ciders, sparkling ciders, still ciders, apple brandies, gins, vermouths, liqueurs, and ready-to-drink cocktails from apples and grapes grown on its 30-hectare estate. It sells these products through its own year-round boutique and Bistro Lafrance, and distributes them via the SAQ provincial network, while operating seasonal agritourism experiences (apple picking, ice cider winter season, sugar season, blooming apple trees).

Product overview

Domaine Lafrance is a Quebec cider and spirits producer offering a diversified portfolio of alcoholic beverages centered on apple-based products. The core products include four flagship offerings: Ice Cider (Cidre de glace), Sparkling Cider (Mousseux), Rosé Sparkling Cider (Mousseux rosé), and Quartier Lafrance (Orange Apple Brandy). Beyond these flagship products, the portfolio spans 30+ additional offerings across seven categories: ice ciders, ready-to-drink cocktails, sparkling ciders, still ciders, aperitifs & spirits, and maple-flavored products. The company also operates an integrated agrotourism business with seasonal experiences including apple picking, ice cider winter tours, sugar season, and apple blossom viewing. On-site amenities include Bistro Lafrance and a boutique. Products are available through the SAQ (Société des alcools du Québec) and directly at the estate.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cidre de glace (Ice Cider) Premium ice cider made from apples hand-picked after the first frost, with juice stored outdoors at -25°C to naturally concentrate sugars before fermenting for approximately six months. Awarded Meilleur cidre 2024 by Magazine Vin d'ici.
• Mousseux (Sparkling Cider) Sparkling cider crafted from Cortland, Golden Russet, and McIntosh apples, with delicate carbonation and aromas of stewed apples and honey.
• Mousseux rosé (Rosé Sparkling Cider) Rosé sparkling cider with natural coloring from the Geneva apple variety, containing 15% ice cider for balance, with aromas of red berries and ripe apples.
• Quartier Lafrance (Orange Apple Brandy) Refined orange liqueur combining apple brandy with orange zest, oak barrel aged, with complex aromas of caramel, apple, orange, exotic fruits, and eau-de-vie.
• Additional Cider and Spirit Range (sparkling, still, gin, vermouth, liqueurs, RTD cocktails) Extended product range including sparkling ciders (Geneva, Darragon dit Lafrance), still ciders (Bin Kin, Cé Sûr, Jardin d'Éden, Légende d'Automne), natural sparkling Rick Special Blends and Tin Toé, apple aperitif (Tonnelet), apple vermouths (Rouge Gorge blanc and rouge), apple eau-de-vie (Pure Légende), apple brandy (Georges-Étienne), gin range (Dandy Gin, Dandy Old Tom Gin, Dandy Sloe Gin, Lafrance Dry Gin), Limoncello, maple-flavored cider (Le Cidrérable), Kir Royal liqueur, and vermouth-based Spritz ready-to-drink cocktails.
• Apple Picking Experience (Cueillette de pommes) Seasonal agritourism experience from August to October where visitors hand-pick apples from over 20 varieties across the 30-hectare estate.
• Ice Cider Winter Experience January agritourism experience showcasing the ice cider production process, with frozen apple picking, guided cidery and distillery tours, tastings, snowshoeing, and bonfire activities.
• Sugar Season Experience (Saison des sucres) March-April agritourism experience featuring the 2,000+ tap sugar bush, maple-flavored ciders and spirits, maple syrups, and exclusive maple sugar-coated apple fritters.
• Blooming Apple Trees Experience (Pommiers en fleurs) May agritourism experience where visitors view the simultaneous bloom of 13,000+ apple trees creating a white orchard landscape.
• Bistro Lafrance Year-round on-site bistro serving local cuisine featuring apples and other orchard ingredients, with terrace seating offering views over 13,000 apple trees and Oratoire Saint-Joseph.
• Boutique (On-site Shop) Year-round on-site shop selling Domaine Lafrance artisanal ciders and spirits, apple juices, maple products, homemade pastries (including apple fritters), and locally sourced Quebec products.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100+ years of artisanal tradition and family ownership passed through generations
• +3 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• La Face Cachée de la Pomme: Quebec cidery recognized for premium ice cider production. Direct peer in the ice cider premium category with shared SAQ distribution and parallel terroir-based differentiation strategies.
• Domaine Pinnacle: Quebec cidery specializing in ice cider, located in the Eastern Townships. Direct competitor in the same Quebec craft ice cider category with overlapping SAQ distribution and similar agritourism operations.
• Cidrerie St-François / Les Vergers St-François: Quebec orchard and cidery combining apple production with artisanal cider making and on-site experiences. Direct peer with vertically integrated orchard-to-bottle model and agritourism component.
• Le Somnambule: Quebec artisanal cidery producing small-batch ciders from local orchards. Direct peer with comparable craft positioning, Quebec regional distribution, and emphasis on traditional cider-making methods.
• Cidrerie Bilodeau: Family-run Quebec cidery producing artisanal ciders and ice cider with on-site boutique and seasonal experiences. Directly comparable craft cider producer with similar product portfolio and Quebec regional distribution.
• Union Libre CID: Quebec craft cidery producing natural and sparkling ciders with SAQ distribution. Direct peer in the Quebec craft cider category targeting similar consumer segments with overlapping product positioning.
• Cidrerie Milton: Quebec cidery producing traditional and ice ciders from local orchards. Direct peer in the craft cider segment with similar Quebec regional focus and SAQ-aligned distribution model.

Broad incumbents

• Distillerie du St. Laurent: Quebec micro-distillery producing artisanal spirits. Comparable as a Quebec craft distillery targeting similar premium positioning and on-site experience model, though without the integrated orchard and agritourism component.
• Cirka Distilleries: Quebec-based grain-to-bottle distillery producing spirits including gin and liqueurs. Comparable as a Quebec craft distillery with overlapping spirit categories, though broader in product range and lacking the cider/orchard anchor.

Regional players

• Verger Petit et Fils: Quebec family orchard offering pick-your-own apples, cider, and on-site experiences. Comparable as a Quebec orchard with agritourism model and cider production, though more seasonal in operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/les-vergers-lafrance-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Domaine Lafrance