By Fred Langan, LJI 

Léon Courville, who has died at the age of 78, was a successful academic, banker and business executive who took early retirement to set up a vineyard in Fulford, Domaine Les Brome. 

Mr. Courville was the eldest of four children. He was a brilliant student and studied economics at l’École des hautes études commerciales and earned a Doctorate at Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh. He then taught economics at an American University then HEC before becoming the chief economist at the National Bank. He eventually became the President and Chief Operating Officer of the National Bank. 

Léon Courville retired at the relatively young age of 53 to pursue his dream of owning and operating a vineyard on a gentle slope along Brome Road. The first vines were planted in 1999, and the first wine sold in 2003. Mr. Courville’s wife, Anne-Maire Lemire opened a boutique on the site. 

Domaine Les Brome produces red, white, rosé and ice wines, along with bubbly. The vineyard reflects Mr. Courville’s love of wine and his business background. There is a modern shop on site and a website that promises delivery to anywhere in Quebec. The vineyard now has 100,000 vines spread over close to 40 acres.