Quincy AOC
Quincy is an Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) in the Loire Valley wine region of France which produces dry white wine. It grows in two communes: Quincy and Brinay in the department of Cher.
History
Antiquity
The etymology of Quincy is thought to come from the Roman name, domaine de Quintius. The Bituriges cultivated the land since ancient times.[1]
Middle-Ages
In 1120, the wine of Quincy was named in a speech by
Contemporary Times
After the consecutive replanting of the vineyards because of the
Geographical Location
Localisation
The Quincy vineyard is situated in the Champagne bérrichonne[1]in the Cher department, between Bourges and Vierzon. It is planted on a plateau of the right bank of the river Cher. Extending from North to South, the East side of it is exposed, divided between the communes of Quincy and Brinay.
Pedology and orography
The vineyard was planted on a Kimmeridgian marly plateau, hanging over the Cher River. It is covered by a mixture of alluvium silica-clay soil. This mixture drains away the excess water and the in-depth marl cover preserves water, protecting it from a dry period.
The soil has three layers: a soil made up of sand and gravel on an underlay of clay, a sandy soil covered by red sand and a sandy-silt soil on a clayey-sand or clay with slightly sandy soil.[1]
Climate
The vineyards benefits from the relatively warm and dry local climate.[3]
Vineyards
Grape varieties
Quincy white wine is only made using the Sauvignon grape. Sauvignon blanc is the main grape planted, while the closely related Sauvignon gris grape represents 10% of the planted surfaces. The not so fertile soil reduces the exuberance of the Sauvignon vegetation well. Harvesting control also ensures optimum maturity of the grape.
Viticulture
The Sauvignon grapes are grown in long
Harvesting
It can be carried out by sorting the grapes out manually or by using a machine to pick the grapes from the vine. The harvesting of vines that are less than three years old cannot be used for wines of the AOC. The amount of sugar in the grape must be less than 170 grams per litre and the potential degree of the juice should be less than 12.5% volume. The permitted yield of the appellation is 65 hectolitres per hectare. It can be 75 hl/ha as an exception, but it is the maximum yield.
Wine making
After it has been picked, the grape is
Marketing
In 2006, production was 12,283 hl. Quincy is mainly sold to the French market; however, exports represents 20% of the production.[1]
Wines
The AOC is only used for dry white wine. It can be delicate and fruity (citrusy), with hints of white flowers and pepper. It is a wine which keeps its quality for at least 4 or 5 years, although ageing does not improve the initial quality. This wine is best accompanied with seafood and fish from the Loire or after a meal with goat's cheese from the region such as Valençay, Pouligny-Saint-Pierre or Crottin de Chavignol.[4]
Notes and references
- ^ a b c d Site de 1001 dégustations (page sur Quincy), consulté le 5 décembre 2009.
- ^ Historique de l'AOC sur le site du domaine de Villain Archived 21 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine, consulté le 4 décembre 2009.
- ^ Sources: INAO
- ^ Sources: Centre INAO de Sancerre