Background: Tom Rand (Ontarian climate hawk author/activist/investor) met Sandrine Tremblay(Quebecois climate/engineering superstar) on a VIA train in 2015. Not long after, miracle baby Henri Tremblay Rand came along. Tom took a lot more trains (and practiced his French) before becoming a proud Quebecer. As a country kid from Niagara-on-the-Lake, in 2019 Tom convinced Sandrine buying the original Domain Pinnacle property – home to Quebec’s original ice cider – from well-known owners/entrepreneurs Charlie and Sue Crawford was a good idea. To save the hundreds of century-old heritage apple trees – one of the largest remaining plots in Quebec – a new cider company, Domaine Heritage, was born. As a long time climate hawk, Tom has written and spoken extensively about climate risk, local resilience and the challenges our kids face in a warming world. Domaine Heritage is where young Henri will learn to face a warming world, together with his peers and neighbours. It’s also where his dad first began to ponder the increasingly important role nature might play in mitigating climate risk. We’re proud to showcase Domaine Heritage as a deeply carbon-negative operation. Resilience and mitigation go hand-in-hand – for all of us.
The property has a proud, if controversial, history. The house, built in 1859 close to the American border, was a beacon of hope for American slaves heading north on the Underground Railroad. Its unique white turret signalled to those escaping injustice they’d reached Canadian soil. During Prohibition, things flowed the other way. A light in that same turret told US smugglers the coast was clear to move booze south. An abandoned still in the forest on the south edge of the property remains to this day. We’ll continue that tradition soon with the introduction of “Pommodos”, local ‘Calvados’ made in a (legal!) artisanal still. We like to think the property was twice on the right side of Canadian/US history!
Our ciders: In 2021, cider-maker Cedric Frappier joined the team. After three years of honing our cider making, we’re pleased to open our boutique and terrasse to the public. Each cider reflects part of the property’s history. The deep-rooted trees produce uniquely complex and minerally juice, which is fully fermented to eliminate sugars. Those fresh ciders are aged in oak barrels that once contained a mix of ice cider and apple brandy called “1859”. This gives more complexity and aromatic overtones. Terroir reflects the land, a mix of all three farm varieties: Cortland, MacIntosh and Lobo. Abbott’s Corner is infused with pomace from wild apples scattered throughout the property. Grande Mac (2025 La Coupe des Nations à Québec Silver Medal) carries the signature, caramel tones of the dominant local variation of MacIntosh.
Heritage is not just ancient trees and history, but something larger to preserve for the next generation. As part of a growing local agri-tourism market, we’re proud to showcase what’s possible when you work to integrate climate awareness with business operations. After all, our common heritage is a living, breathing planet that we all need to protect, preserve and respect.
We hope you find our story, and efforts, interesting enough to pass along, and we look forward to seeing you this summer.
With warm regards from all of us,
Tom, Sandrine, Cedric & Henri
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