Foire aux Vins de Quincy

The AOC Quincy: First Appellation of the Loire Valley

The Foire aux Vins de Quincy celebrates the AOC Quincy, the first wine appellation in the Loire Valley to receive Controlled Designation of Origin recognition on August 6, 1936. The Quincy vineyard covers approximately 330 hectares spread across the communes of Quincy and Brinay, in the Cher (18) department, west of Bourges. The terroir, composed of sand and gravel with an clay component, gives the wines their unique character: dry white wines from the Sauvignon Blanc grape variety, with a beautiful pale golden color, offering freshness, finesse, and aromatic richness (notes of blackcurrant, white flowers, citrus, exotic fruits).

Meet the 40 Winegrowers of the Appellation

The Foire aux Vins de Quincy is a unique opportunity to meet the 40 winegrower producers of the appellation, gathered in one place to present their wines and share their passion for wine. Each winegrower offers free tastings of their wines, allowing visitors to discover the diversity of Sauvignon expressions on the Quincy terroir: fresh and fruity wines, more complex wines aged on lees, single-vineyard cuvées reflecting the typicity of micro-terroirs. The winegrowers, true ambassadors of their craft, explain their working methods (sustainable or organic viticulture, manual or mechanical harvesting, traditional or innovative winemaking) and advise visitors on food pairings.

Tasting Workshops and Oenological Discovery

Beyond simple tasting, the Foire aux Vins de Quincy offers oenological workshops led by professional sommeliers and oenologists: introduction to tasting (visual, olfactory, and gustatory analysis), food and wine pairing workshops with Berry specialties (AOC Chavignol goat cheeses, Loire fish, poultry), and discovery of vintages and wine aging over time. Guided vineyard tours are sometimes organized, allowing visitors to walk through the vine plots, understand the vine's growth cycle, and grasp the terroir's influence on the wines' character.

Gastronomy and Local Products

The Foire aux Vins de Quincy is also a gastronomic celebration of the riches of the Berry region. Stalls from local producers offer specialties to taste and take home: AOC Crottin de Chavignol and AOC Selles-sur-Cher goat cheeses, artisanal charcuterie, rillettes de Tours, Berry cakes, honey, jams, and farm products. Food stalls allow visitors to eat on-site with charcuterie and cheese platters accompanied by Quincy wines, creating a complete oeno-gastronomic experience. This alliance between fine wines and local products highlights the culinary richness of Berry and the complementarity of the region's wine and cheese appellations.

Promotion of Wine Tourism in Berry

The Foire aux Vins de Quincy is part of a strategy to promote wine tourism in Berry and the Cher Valley. It allows a wide audience (wine lovers, tourists, families) to discover the Quincy vineyard, promote the wine heritage of Berry, and develop direct sales beneficial to winegrowers. The event attracts several thousand visitors from across the Centre-Val de Loire region and beyond, contributing to the reputation of AOC Quincy and the tourist appeal of the territory. The Syndicat Viticole de Quincy, organizer of the event, plays a key role in structuring the sector and passing on winemaking know-how to younger generations.