Vintage

Beginner Aging & Storage

Definition

The year in which the grapes were harvested.

In Depth

Vintage matters most in regions with variable climates — Burgundy, Bordeaux, and the Mosel see significant quality differences between years. In consistent climates (Napa, Barossa), vintage variation is less dramatic. Non-vintage (NV) wines blend multiple years for consistency, most famously in Champagne. Vintage charts rate year quality for each region.

Related Guides

Details

Category
Aging & Storage
Difficulty
Beginner

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