What is a vintage/vintage year?
Quick answer
A vintage year is the year the grapes were harvested. It tells you about the weather conditions that shaped the wine in your glass.
Detailed answer
If you have ever wondered why the same wine tastes different from one year to the next, the answer lies in the vintage. The vintage year printed on a label records when the grapes were picked — and since weather is never identical twice, neither is the wine.
Grape vines are remarkably sensitive to their environment. A warm, sunny growing season concentrates sugars and deepens colour, producing fuller-bodied wines. A cool, rainy year preserves acidity and can yield elegant, lighter styles — or, in tough years, diluted and underripe wines. Bordeaux 2010 and 2016 are celebrated for near-perfect conditions, while 2013 was challenging across much of France.
Some wines deliberately omit a vintage year. Most non-vintage Champagnes blend juice from multiple harvests to achieve a consistent house style. Certain fortified wines like Tawny Port also blend across years. The absence of a date is not a red flag — it is a stylistic choice.
When shopping on expertvin.be, you will find the vintage clearly listed on every product page along with tasting notes that reflect that specific year. Understanding vintages helps you decide whether to drink a bottle now or cellar it for later.