It is in Frelighsburg, on the site of one of Quebec's oldest orchards that extends its 35 ha to 220 metres above sea level on the sunny slopes of Mount Pinacle, sentinel of Appalachians, that Louise Dupuis and Christian Barthomeuf founded in the spring of 2003 Clos Saragnat.
The site, chosen because of its privileged geographical location, 1 km from the US border (Vermont) and therefore on the 45th parallel, enjoys an ideal sunshine for a vineyard.


Christian, who was one of Quebec's pioneers of contemporary viticulture, planted Dunham's first vineyard in 1980 and founded the Domaine des Côtes d'Ardoises, created the ice cider in 1989, then planted the first vineyard in Sutton and Frelighsburg.
Clos Saragnat is also a research centre specialized in viticulture and fruit vinification.
Winners of many awards, and awarded with numerous gold medals and other awards, he also designed Chapelle Ste Agnès and contributed to the national success of La Face Cachée de la pomme, and international du Domaine Pinnacle.
 
Christian develops the wines and the ciders" Clos Saragnat ".
 
Louise, who worked on the cultivation of the famous "Chapelle Ste Agnès" vineyard for three years, brings all her know-how to the cultivation of vineyards and the care of the fruit trees of "Clos Saragnat".cidre de glace

The first Cider of Glace was created by Christian Barthomeuf during the winter of 1989/1990 and the first bottles bear the 1990 vintage.
Christian exploited this product in Dunham under the name "Pomerière" from 1992 to 1996.
The authorities refused the name Cider de Glace and the product was then called Cider liquorous, Cider strong or Cider very sweet.
 
At the end of 1996, Christian was hired as a consultant by the Pouvac Orchard in Hemmingford to design a cider factory and develop this famous Cider, including Quebec
were beginning to hear about it. He suggested renaming the small farm. Christian's suggestion was accepted; Verger Pouvac" became "The Hidden Face of the Apple" and then Snow and Frimas were born.
 
It was only in July 1999 that St Nicolas's "La Cidrerie Saint Nicolas" finally obtained the right of the authorities to call it Cider de Glace.
It took 10 years for this fabulous product to finally get the name it deserved.
The mention Cider de Glace thus appears on the 1998 vintages (bottled in 1999).
 
In 2000, " Domaine Pinnacle", a young company with an orchard in Frelighsburg, also called on Christian to develop the Cider of Ice.
This company, which has been booming, has propelled the Ice Cider around the world in four years. It was also for " Domaine Pinnacle" that Christian Barthomeuf developed the first Cider of Glace Sparkling in 2004.
 
At the same time, in 2002, Louise Dupuis and Christian Barthomeuf created Clos Saragnat » still in Frelighsburg, on the site of a very old orchard,
for the purpose of developing a Winter Ice Cider and different Aperitif Ciders Clos Saragnat » also produces Paille Wine and Ice Wine; in organic farming.
 
The "Fundacion de la Sidra" and the "Museo de la Sidra" in Spain recognized this invention first and gave the 2007 PREMIO to Christian Barthomeuf. He followed a statement to Parliament in Ottawa that same year and the 2008 Ice Cider World also officially recognized the invention.
It was again in 2008 that Christian won the 45th gold medal for his various vinifications (Vins and Ciders of Ice).
 
The honours and thanks did not stop there because Christian received an invitation to an official dinner in Ottawa with Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.
A brief and warm private interview between the Prince and Christian ensued.
 
On June 24, 2011, the Governor General's Table Arts Award was presented to Christian, still in Ottawa.
 
After developing a few million bottles for the two large companies mentioned above, Christian decided in 2003 to make ice cider without any treatments on apple trees and without any chemical additives in the finished product.