Quincy

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Terroir

• The vineyard occupies a plateau sloping eastward, formed by an ancient terrace of subdued relief, on the left bank of the Cher between Bourges and Vierzon.
• The Upper Jurassic formations (Kimmeridgian cuesta) are here overlaid by lacustrine limestone deposits from the Tertiary, the ancient terrace resulting from erosion of the Massif Central having been laid down on a plateau of lacustrine limestone from the Ludian and Stampian.
• The alluvial deposit covering the plateau can reach a maximum thickness of 6 metres and is composed of sands and gravels, or of pebbles embedded in a clay matrix.
• The selected plots are situated at altitudes ranging from 110 to 133 metres on the gentle slopes of the hillocks, which favour natural drainage of water and the circulation of cold air masses.
• The climate is semi-continental with oceanic influence, and the nearby Cher river acts as a thermal regulator, encouraging a rapid start to vegetative growth in spring.
• Annual rainfall is approximately 600 millimetres, with warm, sunny, and dry summers.

• Mentioned in the papal bull of Calixtus II in 1120, Quincy ranks among the oldest vineyards in the region, with viticulture by the Bituriges cubi dating back to Antiquity.
• The Sauvignon grape variety was introduced by the Benedictines of Cîteaux established at the abbey of Beauvoir near Quincy, before the wines were granted the status of noble wines in the fourteenth century under the aegis of Duke Jean de Berry.
• The first growers' syndicate was established in 1885 to replant the vineyard following phylloxera and to secure its reputation, defining in 1928 the list of authorised producers.
• Quincy was the first effective appellation d'origine contrôlée in the Centre-Loire, recognised by the decree of 6 August 1936, following the replanting of the vineyard after phylloxera.

• The wines are dry, fresh, and refined, most often showing notes of ripe fruit and white blossom over an overall mineral character.
• These wines can be enjoyed in their youth while retaining their characteristics for several years, without ageing improving their initial qualities.

• The low-fertility soils help to curb the vigour of the Sauvignon grape variety and thereby ensure optimal ripeness of the grapes at harvest.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

All appellations in France

Sources

• Product specification (BO Agri, PDF) — approved 1er février 2022, JORF 5 février 2022
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — BIVC — Vins du Centre-Loire