The wine appellation of Quincy

Quincy

In Quincy we have an ancient and very noble vineyard. It would seem, as is also the case with Pouilly-Fumé and a number of other Central Vineyard appellations, that this town and its vineyard have origins which may go back to the 1st C Celtic Gauls. Quincy is a derivation of Quintius, which local legend has it was one of the earliest Gallo-Roman settlers to tend vines here.

The region had come to the attention of Pope Callixtus II (c.1065 – 1124) and in 1120 one of the bulls he issued referred specifically to the wines of Quincy. Cistercians founded an abbey at nearby Beauvoir in Marmagne, on the outskirts of Bourges and the nuns that lived at the abbey have been credited not only with the planting of the vast majority (if not all) of the vineyards at this time, but also with the introduction of Sauvignon Blanc to the region, which they referred to as Savignum.

Quincy was the first AOC created in the Loire Valley and the second in France after Châteauneuf du Pape. Here in Quincy local vignerons came together in 1885, their aim being to replant and to restore the region to its previous glory after it was devastated by phylloxera during the last two decades of the 19th century.

This is a hidden gem with most of the wine being consumed in France..

The vineyards of Quincy

Location: 2 communes comprise the appellation, which is situated in the Champagne bérrichonne in the Cher department, between Bourges and Vierzon.

Vineyards: The villages of Quincy and Brinay

Surface Area: 346 hectares (854 acres)

Yeild: 65 hl/ha

Soil: Fine sand, gravel and clay, peppered with river-rolled pebbles and stones over a mix of limestone marl and clay, rich in the shells of crustaceans, oysters and other molluscs.

Climate: Semi-continental, with the forests of Brinay and Quincy offering some protection from the prevailing winds. 

Wines of AOC Quincy

Annual Production: : 12,000 hl / 317,000 gallons

Grape Varieties: Sauvignon Blanc and up to 10% Sauvignon gris; some Gamay is produced here but that wine is labeled Vin de France.

Tasting notes

White Appearance: Pale straw yellow.

Nose: with aromas of citrus fruits, white flowers, acacia and pepper. Pleasant, soft fruit notes.

Flavours: a delightful freshness and purity, and thanks to efficient ripening on warm sandy soils, lower acidity, which tends to give them a sense of creamy accessibility..

Serving suggestions This wine goes wonderfully with regional goat cheeses (Valençay, Chavignol, etc.) or fish and seafood.ps to roast pork, and the cheese board.

Every year, the winegrowers organize an event not to be missed during the last weekend of August: the Ocean Days! Oyster farmers from Oléron and winegrowers from Quincy celebrate these exceptional products.

Storage Drink young and fresh, 2-3 years.