The vintage on a wine bottle is the year the grapes were harvested. It sounds simple — but the weather conditions that year can make an enormous difference to the wine's quality and character. A fantastic vintage from a top estate can cost ten times as much as a weak vintage from the same producer.
But vintages don't mean the same for all wines. For everyday wines and many overseas wines, the vintage is relatively irrelevant. It's primarily for aging wines from classic European regions that the vintage really counts.
Most important to know: For Bordeaux, Bourgogne, Barolo and Rioja, the vintage is very important. For Australian Shiraz, Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and most everyday wines, it's almost irrelevant — the wine is designed to taste good every year.
What affects a vintage's quality?
- Sun and warmth — enough sun in the ripening period is crucial for the grapes to develop full maturity and aromas
- Precipitation — rain during harvest can dilute the grapes and give watered-down wine. Drought can give concentrated, intense wines — or stress that damages the grapes
- Frost — late frost in spring can decimate the harvest. Early frost in autumn can stop ripening
- Fungal diseases — humid weather increases the risk of grey rot and mildew
Great vintages to know
Bordeaux: 2000, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2019 are all excellent vintages. See guide to Bordeaux.
Bourgogne: 2005, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2019 are great vintages for Pinot Noir.
Rioja: 2004, 2005, 2010, 2015 are excellent. See guide to Rioja.
When is the vintage irrelevant?
For most wines you buy in the supermarket, the vintage is secondary. The producer has designed the wine to taste consistent every year — and modern winemaking can smooth out variation in grape quality considerably.
Champagne without a year (Non-Vintage) is actually deliberately made as a blend of vintages to ensure consistent style — a vintage Champagne is an exception that marks an exceptional vintage.
Do you have questions about a specific wine or vintage?
Ask the AI assistant — it can help you evaluate any wine.
Try the AI assistant →