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