An adventure that began in 1978
In
1978, Montreal residents Janine and Jean Authier bought the former home
of Senator Marc Drouin in Cap-à-l’Aigle. They converted this
private residence, which then had 11 small bedrooms and four bathrooms,
into a cozy, charming inn and… La Pinsonnière was born!
Settling for nothing less than excellence, the team gradually transformed the small inn into a luxury establishment, so successfully that in 1985, the prestigious Relais & Châteaux chain welcomed La Pinsonnière into its ranks. The same scenario was repeated for the dining room, which that same year was awarded the top honour of Mérite National de la Restauration by Quebec’s Ministry of Agriculture. La Pinsonnière was well on its way!
After studying communications at university, Valérie Andrée—the Authier’s only daughter—joined the team in 1991 and decided to continue the work her parents had begun. In its constant drive for excellence, La Pinsonnière expanded, matured and repeatedly earned prestigious awards, including but not limited to the following:
- Rated 5 stars
- CAA / AAA | Four Diamonds Award in restaurant services. La Pinsonnière has held the Four Diamonds Award longer than any other restaurant in Quebec, since 1987.
- CAA/ AAA | Four Diamonds Award in hotel services
- Collège des Ambassadeurs du vin | Prix carte d’Or
- Condé Nast Traveler | One of the 10 rising stars of the world
- Guide Debeur | 4 star classification
- Guide Zaggat | restaurant 29/30
- Ministry of Tourism | Winner in gastronomy - Grands Prix du Tourisme
- Ministry of Tourism | Table d’Or du Québec
- Ministry of Tourism | Winner 4 and 5-star lodging Grands Prix du Tourisme 2007
- Official Hotel Guide | “DELUXE” classification
- Relais & Châteaux | since 1985
- Société des Alcools du Québec | Table de Prestige
- The Wine Spectator | Best of Award of Excellence
- Featured in the book "1000 places to see before you die"
The
final phase of renovation work has been completed in May 2006. Remaining
faithful to her parents’ dedication to excellence dating back almost
30 years, Valérie Andrée Authier reduced the number of rooms
from 26 to 18 to meet international luxury hotel standards while maintaining
the soul and special character of La Pinsonnière which have carried
its reputation far and wide.
With luxury rooms, a multiple-award-winning dining room, a wine cellar worthy of the finest connoisseurs and a full range of facilities on site (swimming pool, spa, tennis court, beach, conference rooms, cooking courses, etc.), La Pinsonnière now definitely qualifies as a grand hotel in miniature.