Beer festival fundraiser for Trestler House
Vaudreuil-Dorion’s historic Trestler House is getting ready for its second annual Trestlerfest event, which pairs craft beer, local wines and fine foods with live music and a slice of local history.
The event is both a showcase for local microbreweries, wineries and artisanal food producers, and an important fundraiser for Trestler House.
Friday’s event will run from 5 to 10 p.m. and features four local microbreweries: Schoune from StPolycarpe, Le Castor from Rigaud, Maltéus from Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, and Labrosse, which opened last February in Pointe Claire. Sleeman beers will also be available.
Côte de Vaudreuil winery will offer samples for their whites, reds and rosés, and food will be provided by L’Artisan de la mer, l’Artisan du Terroir, Bad Monkey, Les Délices d’Arnaud, IGA Extra Famille Viau and Resto-Bar Sunny’s.
Three tasting coupons and a commemorative glass are included with each $25 ticket, and additional samples are available for $2.
Director Louise Leblond-Vallée said Trestler House is both historically and culturally important for the region.
Trestler House was built in 1798 by Jean-Joseph Trestler, a German who came to Canada at 17 years old in 1777 to fight for the British against American invasion.
After seven years in the army, he was discharged and became a merchant, started a family, and eventually built his eponymous house.
For many years it was a grand family home and general store, but in 1984 it was acquired by the nonprofit Trestler House Foundation and converted into a museum and cultural centre.
Leblond-Vallée said Trestlerfest helps draw new visitors to the museum and cultural centre, thanks to a growing interest in craft beer.
Last year’s event was a hit when an estimated 400 people attended.
This year, she is hoping to increase attendance to 500 people.
“It’s an activity that appeals to all generations,” Leblond-Vallée said. “Our principal mission is to conserve this residence so that it endures for future generations, and to share its fascinating and unique history.”
Preserving this piece of history doesn’t come cheap. Leblond-Vallée noted it costs $23,000 each year just to heat the building.
“To maintain it and keep it open takes a lot of revenue,” she said.
Throughout the year, Trestler House offers guided one-hour tours that help visitors glimpse what life was like hundreds of years ago. Pictures illustrate the life of the Trestler family, and artifacts are on display that are up to 200 years old. Located near Lac des Deux Montagnes and the Ottawa River, the scenic site is also a popular spot in summer for English tea on the terrace in the afternoons and classical music performances on Wednesday evenings.
Trestler House is open to visitors Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m., and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. The English tea service is available starting in June, by reservation only.
For more information on Trestler House or to reserve tickets for Trestlerfest, call 450-455-6290 or visit trestler.qc.ca.