Château Quercy

Identity

Château Quercy is a winegrowing estate located in the commune of Vignonet, in the Gironde department. It produces wines under the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation.

History and Philosophy

Built at the end of the 18th century, the château features a Directoire neoclassical architectural style. Its name, "Quercy", derives from the Latin word "Quercus", meaning "oak", referring to the centuries-old holm oaks gracing the property.

In 1988, the estate—then spanning approximately 6 hectares of land with 3.5 hectares of vineyard—was acquired. It has since come under the ownership of a Chinese family. Dedicated to an environmentally friendly approach, Château Quercy began its conversion to organic farming with the 2009 harvest, securing official certification with the 2012 vintage.

The Appellations

The plots of Château Quercy are located in the commune of Vignonet and exclusively produce wines under the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation.

Practical Information

Address: 3, grave, 33330 Vignonet

Telephone: +33 (0) 557 84 56 07

Email: chateauquercy@wanadoo.fr

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, year-round.

Château Quercy offers educational tours of the vineyard and cellars, followed by a tasting. These visits are available by appointment for individuals or groups (up to 25 people). Cellar-door sales are available, allowing purchases at direct cellar prices. Tours are conducted in English, Chinese, and Italian.

Find Out More

Official estate website

The Vineyard (Terroir)

The Château Quercy vineyard covers 3 hectares within the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation. The vines average around 75 years of age, with plantings dating back to 1901, 1961, 1988, and 1998. The soils are gravelly, composed of flint and pebbles, enriched by alluvium, silt, sand, and gravel from the former bed of the Dordogne.

The blend of grape varieties is dominated by Merlot (80%), complemented by Cabernet Franc (15%), alongside 5% of Carmenère, Malbec, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Viticultural practices adhere to organic farming principles, with no chemical herbicides and plant health management that encourages natural predators and ecosystem balance. The estate also carries out debudding, leaf thinning, and green harvesting.

Flagship Cuvées

Château Quercy Grand Cru Saint-Émilion

This grand vin is crafted from the estate's old vines, some of which date back to 1901. It is characterised by vinification in oak vats and 18 months of ageing in stave-wood oak barrels.

Château Graves de Peyroutas Grand Cru Saint-Émilion

This second wine is produced from younger vines planted in 1964 and 1988. Vinification takes place in concrete vats, followed by 12 months of ageing in stave-wood oak barrels.

Vinification and Ageing

Harvesting is carried out by hand using small crates to maintain berry integrity. A double sorting process is performed: first after picking to remove leaves, then a second pass on a sorting table after destemming, which is conducted without crushing. Gravity-led vats are filled using conveyor belts, avoiding the use of pumps.

The alcoholic fermentation, lasting 15 to 20 days, is indigenous and occurs without the addition of selected yeasts. Extractions are performed via pump-overs or manual punch-downs. A 2 to 4-week maceration precedes malolactic fermentation, which takes place partly in new oak barrels and partly in vats with submerged marc. Ageing lasts 15 to 18 months in stave-wood oak barrels, featuring regular lees stirring (bâtonnage) and controlled oxygenation. Around 80% of the barrels used are new, with the remaining 20% being one-wine barrels or older. The wine is bottled at the château.