Quincy AOC
Encyclopedia
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.
introduced by the monks at Cîteaux Abbey
.
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.
marl
y 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.
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.
es to help manage its capricious and low fertility. The single Guyot is limited to a number of 10 vine eyes for support while the double Guyot has 12 vine eyes. With cordon training, or cordon de Royat, a maximum of 14 vine eyes are used, split on two heads of a maximum of 2 vine eyes.
The plantation density must be more than 5,500 vines per hectare. The distance between rows cannot exceed 1.45 metres and the distance between vines on a row must be between 0.90 and 1.25 metres.
Foliage trellising is compulsory and must not exceed 0.6 times the space between the rows. This height is measured between 10 cm under the string and the height of trimming.
Irrigation is forbidden, as is weeding of the gaps and embankments.
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.
, Pouligny-Saint-Pierre
or Crottin de Chavignol
.
Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
Appellation d’origine contrôlée , which translates as "controlled designation of origin", is the French certification granted to certain French geographical indications for wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products, all under the auspices of the government bureau Institut National...
(AOC) in the Loire Valley wine region
Loire Valley (wine)
The Loire Valley wine region includes the French wine regions situated along the Loire River from the Muscadet region near the city of Nantes on the Atlantic coast to the region of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé just southeast of the city of Orléans in north central France. In between are the regions of...
of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
which produces dry white wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
. It grows in two communes: Quincy
Quincy
-People:*Saer de Quincy, 1st Earl of Winchester, Norman nobleman*Roger de Quincy, 2nd Earl of Winchester, Norman nobleman*Quincy Jones , American record producer and musician-Places:France*Quincy, Cher, a commune in the Cher département in France...
and Brinay
Brinay
Brinay may refer to the following places in France:*Brinay, Cher, a commune in the department of Cher*Brinay, Nièvre, a commune in the department of Nièvre...
in the department of Cher.
Antiquity
The etymology of Quincy is thought to come from the Roman name, domaine de Quintius. The Bituriges cultivated the land since ancient times.Middle-Ages
In 1120, the wine of Quincy was named in a speech by Pope Calixtus II and the Sauvignon BlancSauvignon blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is a green-skinned grape variety which originates from the Bordeaux region of France. The grape most likely gets its name from the French word sauvage and blanc due to its early origins as an indigenous grape in South West France., a possible descendant of savagnin...
introduced by the monks at Cîteaux Abbey
Cîteaux Abbey
Cîteaux Abbey is a Roman Catholic abbey located in Saint-Nicolas-lès-Cîteaux, south of Dijon, France. Today it belongs to the Trappists, or Cistercians of the Strict Observance . The Cistercian order takes its name from this mother house of Cîteaux, earlier Cisteaux, near Nuits-Saint-Georges...
.
Contemporary Times
After the consecutive replanting of the vineyards because of the Phylloxera epidemic, Quincy was the first commune to be awarded an AOC in this part of the Loire region, on 6 August 1936.Localisation
The Quincy vineyard is situated in the Champagne bérrichonnein the Cher department, between BourgesBourges
Bourges is a city in central France on the Yèvre river. It is the capital of the department of Cher and also was the capital of the former province of Berry.-History:...
and Vierzon
Vierzon
Vierzon is a commune in the Cher department in the Centre region of France.-Geography:A medium-sized town by the banks of the Cher River with some light industry and an area of forestry and farming to the north...
. 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 KimmeridgianKimmeridgian
In the geologic timescale, the Kimmeridgian is an age or stage in the Late or Upper Jurassic epoch or series. It spans the time between 155.7 ± 4 Ma and 150.8 ± 4 Ma . The Kimmeridgian follows the Oxfordian and precedes the Tithonian....
marl
Marl
Marl or marlstone is a calcium carbonate or lime-rich mud or mudstone which contains variable amounts of clays and aragonite. Marl was originally an old term loosely applied to a variety of materials, most of which occur as loose, earthy deposits consisting chiefly of an intimate mixture of clay...
y plateau, hanging over the Cher River. It is covered by a mixture of alluvium silica-clay
Clay
Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...
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.
Grape varieties
Quincy white wine is only made using the SauvignonSauvignon
Sauvignon may refer to:*Sauvignon blanc – a white wine grape*Sauvignon vert – a white wine grape widely planted in Chile. Also a name in California for muscadelle*Sauvignon gris – a pink wine grape*Cabernet sauvignon – a red wine grape...
grape. Sauvignon Blanc is the main grape planted, while the closely related Sauvignon Gris
Sauvignon gris
Sauvignon gris is pink color wine grape that is a clonal mutation of Sauvignon blanc. The grape is primarily found in Bordeaux and Chile, where it was imported with Sauvignon blanc and Sauvignon vert cuttings. The grape produces less aromatic wines and is often use for blending....
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 trellisTrellis
Trellis may refer to:* Trellis Drainage System* Trellis , an architectural structure often used to support plants* Trellis , a special kind of graph, often used in coding...
es to help manage its capricious and low fertility. The single Guyot is limited to a number of 10 vine eyes for support while the double Guyot has 12 vine eyes. With cordon training, or cordon de Royat, a maximum of 14 vine eyes are used, split on two heads of a maximum of 2 vine eyes.
The plantation density must be more than 5,500 vines per hectare. The distance between rows cannot exceed 1.45 metres and the distance between vines on a row must be between 0.90 and 1.25 metres.
Foliage trellising is compulsory and must not exceed 0.6 times the space between the rows. This height is measured between 10 cm under the string and the height of trimming.
Irrigation is forbidden, as is weeding of the gaps and embankments.
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
Yield (wine)
In viticulture, the yield is a measure of the amount of grapes or wine that is produced per unit surface of vineyard, and is therefore a type of crop 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 pressed as early as possible. The must is left to undergo a cold stabilisation before fermentation takes place in a tank. After fermentation, ageing of the non-fermented matter sometimes happens in fermentation vats.Marketing
In 2006, production was 12,283 hl. Quincy is mainly sold to the French market; however, exports represents 20% of the production.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 ValençayValençay
Valençay is a commune in the Indre department in central France.-Geography:Valençay is situated in the Loire Valley on a hillside overlooking the River Nahon.-History:...
, Pouligny-Saint-Pierre
Pouligny-Saint-Pierre
Pouligny-Saint-Pierre is a commune in the Indre department in central France.The name of the commune is known internationally via the goat's cheese, Pouligny-Saint-Pierre, that was first made in the village in the 19th century.-References:*...
or Crottin de Chavignol
Crottin de Chavignol
Crottin de Chavignol is the most famous goat cheese of the many varieties produced in the Loire Valley. This cheese is the claim to fame for the village of Chavignol, France, which has only two hundred inhabitants.-History:...
.