During our last visit to France we decided to have a round or two of wine tasting. One visit was to Mareuil sur Cher and the La Renaudie vineyard of Bruno and Patricia Denis. You can read about it here. The other was to Quincy and Reuilly.
The experiences were very different but both were enjoyable. La Renaudie is very much more of a family run, but still very professional, operation. In Quincy it seemed to be a much bigger operation, and more of a co-operative.
The vines of Quincy Loire Valley
Outside there were a series of small plaques explaining the process of wine making and information about the region. Inside the centre there was a 'nose' trail, with various scents to identify.
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| A tasting session with John and Maureen. |
I wouldn't class myself as a wine connoisseur, or even someone who knows very much about wine, but the Quincy
Tasting notes refer to it as being herbaceous, grassy and citrus; I can't say that I noticed this, but I did like it, and bought 6 bottles.
Tasting notes refer to it as being herbaceous, grassy and citrus; I can't say that I noticed this, but I did like it, and bought 6 bottles.
In the fields opposite we noticed lots of structures which we found to be heaters to protect the vines against frost.
We've been debating how they work .................what do you think?
The Quincy wine sounds right up my street!
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of the Quincy wines, I must have a look for them. The heaters are fascinating having done a search it seems that they are wind machine's used in combination with a heater that is run by either oil or diesel. I have never heard of them before. Diane
ReplyDeleteDiane,
ReplyDeleteWe'd never seen the heaters before either. The vineyards on both sides of the road had lots of them - the shapes, sizes and mode of operation were slightly different, but they were there.
We wondered whether there was a 'frost pocket' in the region.
Tim and John both quickly worked out how they operated, and it is how you suggest.
Craig,
ReplyDeleteThe wine certainly was very nice!
Quincy and Reuilly are two of my favourite wines apart from Vouvray and Saumur Champigny, which are my absolute favourites. They are hard to find in Belgium, though and only the better supermarkets carry them. This means that, whenever I spot a bottle, I can't resist buying it :) Martine
ReplyDeleteMartine,
ReplyDeleteI haven't really looked for Quincy in a UK supermarket.
In the past (probably about 10 years ago - and before the advent of the online merchants) I used an direct sell wine merchant who stocked Quincy. I seem to remember it being fairly expensive in comparison with the price I would normally pay for an 'everyday' wine.
Hi Gaynor. Jean-Michel Sorbe is now part of the portfolio of Joseph Mellot, a big producer and négociant in Sancerre. There are a number of small producers in Quincy where your experience of a tasting and visit is likely to be more like it was in Mareuil.
ReplyDeleteSpring frosts can be a major problem in the Loire and the heater/fans are one way of combating a frost in April or early May. In 1991 two thirds of the grape crop was destroyed in one night in April.