| While many wines can readily be bought in a | | | | Also, wine collectors, traders and |
| wine shop at affordable prices, there are | | | | enthusiasts save bottles of good vintage |
| also many wines that are quite expensive. The | | | | wines for future consumption. This allows the |
| most expensive ones are vintage wines. | | | | wines to age, giving them a better, sharper |
| | | | flavor. |
| A vintage wine is made from grapes grown in a | | | | |
| single specific year. It is accordingly dated | | | | To ensure the fine quality present in vintage |
| to that particular year. Usually, this | | | | wines, the best quality grapes are harvested |
| suggests that the wine is of fine quality. In | | | | and used. The wine-making technique is |
| another common but incorrect usage, a vintage | | | | undertaken with great care. This makes |
| wine is a term that is applied to wine that | | | | vintage wines more expensive than non-vintage |
| is quite old. | | | | ones. Vintage wines are usually the flagship |
| | | | or leading wine of a wine producer. |
| In the US, for a wine to be declared and | | | | |
| labeled as vintage and labeled with a country | | | | Vintage wines are made in a single batch so |
| of origin or AVA, it must have at least 95% | | | | each bottle of wine will retain the same |
| of its volume taken from grapes harvested in | | | | taste. However, several factors such as a |
| that certain year. In Australia and New | | | | region's climate can significantly alter the |
| Zealand, it must contain 85% of grapes | | | | character of the wine. As a result, different |
| harvested in that year. In the absence of an | | | | vintages from the same vineyard can be varied |
| AVA label, the wine must have at least 85% of | | | | in flavor and quality. |
| its volume taken from the grapes harvested | | | | |
| within that year. The requirement for vintage | | | | The counterpart of vintage wines is, of |
| wines in Chile and South Africa, however, is | | | | course, non vintage wines. These are blended |
| 75%. | | | | from the harvest of two or more years. In |
| | | | other words, non-vintage wines are blended |
| The flavor of vintage wines is very good. | | | | from several different vintages. This process |
| However, it can be improved with age if the | | | | allows winemakers to have a consistent style |
| wines are properly stored. This is quite true | | | | of wine. This also allows wine makers to |
| with red wines. | | | | acquire a good market image and maintain |
| | | | sales even during bad years. |