The death of one of the pillars of viticulture in Quebec

One of the pillars of viticulture in Quebec died Tuesday morning.

Leon Corville has died aged 78. His death was announced on the Facebook page “Léon Courville Vigneron”.

“It is with sadness that we announce the death of Léon Courville, founder of the vineyard and great man of wine,” relatives wrote on the page. The Léon Courville Vigneron vineyard will close tomorrow, September 27. Details of the festivities will be announced later. You left us too soon Leon. »

Léon Courville holds a PhD in Economics from Carnegie Mellon University. He taught at HEC Montreal before joining National Bank in 1984. He worked as an economist before becoming the chairman of the National Bank until 1999.

When he retired, he wanted to go into business by establishing his vineyard on his land at Lake Brome. Leon Corville enjoyed rapid success. In 2014, he sold 70,000 bottles to the SAQ. Its vineyard now covers nearly 40 acres with 100,000 vines, according to the company’s website.

Many tributes

Host Mario Dumont also announced his friend’s death on X (formerly Twitter). They knew each other during Mario Dumont’s political career at L’Actiondemocratique du Québec (ADQ).

“It’s been 25 years of great friendship,” she shared in a text message. He is a thoughtful and intelligent man. »

Michel St-Jean/Agence QMI

At X, Quebec’s Premier François Legault agreed in the same direction.

“Leon Corville was a brilliant and creative man. My condolences to all his loved ones,” he wrote.

On the same social network, Isabel Charest, the minister responsible for sport, leisure and outdoors, also had kind words for the winemaker.

“It is with great sadness that I learned of the death of Léon Courville, a lover of Brome-Missisquoi who left a lasting mark on the world of viticulture in Quebec. My thoughts are with his loved ones,” he said.