Vintage The vintage wines are wines specifically grown in a certain year.
These wines are labeled by the year they were grown rather than by the different region or grape used to make the wine.
These grapes are usually all grown in the same year also.
Every year the same wine may have a different variation in color and slightly in taste.
Many other characteristic differences noted with vintages include the nose, palate, body, and the development.
They are considered to improve in flavor with age when they are stored properly.
It is very common for wine collectors to hold onto a vintage bottle of wine for a special occasion to consume.
Non-Vintage Non-vintage wines are wines produced from grapes and wines not from the same vintage.
They do maintain the consistency with the taste of the wine and the other characteristics.
These wines often sell better because they maintain the same flavor.
Even in a bad year these wines can be blended and produced because the grapes come from different vintages.
Next time you here someone use the term "vintage" you will know exactly what they mean.
This will help you to appear 'in the know' and you will be able to impress others with your knowledge.
Quality wine is something that socially elite people understand.
You can join their ranks and have a great time in the process.
Wouldn't it be cool to get to the point where you can tell what region the wine was created in? And if you have really great capabilities you might even be able to pinpoint the decade.
That would involve tasting a lot of wines and you might not be 'that into it'.
It's nice to speculate about the possibilities though, isn't it? Next time you are at a party, your new knowledge of vintage vs non-vintage may be a nice way to provide value to your social group.
Enjoy your next wine tasting.