Why is vintage wine better

As a result, and are considered some of the best vintages ever produced. The most important thing that goes into making a great vintage is the weather. Grapes, like all fruits, grow and ripen differently depending on climatic conditions.

But one thing stays constant—all grapes need sunlight. Grapes that are exposed to plenty of sunlight and warm weather tend to reach their optimal ripeness, while those exposed to too much rain and cloudy weather will not ripen and are at risk of rotting and contracting diseases. Some grapes, like Riesling, make the best wine when exposed to warm, sunny days and cool nights, whereas other grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon would suffer if exposed to the same conditions. This means that a region can have an excellent vintage with some of their wines, and a poor vintage with others.

Although good weather conditions are essential to producing good wine, producers also play a huge role in creating a great vintage. Were the grapes harvested at the right time? In Sherry production, the solera system uses fractional blending of many vintages to develop complexity in the wine, as well as ensuring consistency. Vintage Champagne and vintage Port are the exceptions here — in some years, where the vintage has been particularly good, Champagne and Port producers may decide to declare a vintage.

The conditions have to be just right to produce grapes of a sufficiently high quality to make vintage Champagne — this generally means that there are only about four or five such vintages in a decade. How can one vintage differ from the next? The weather in any particular wine-growing region can vary each year. On top of this, different grape varieties respond to different climatic conditions in their own particular way. Mother Nature is both friend and foe to a winemaker. The weather during the growing season and at harvest time has a big impact on the quality and size of the harvest produced.

Poorly timed spring frost can cause reduced yield later in the season. Is it the vintage, the vintner, the terroir… or is it all really just subjective? Do you know your wine personality? If your answer is no, take our quiz to find out which wines to pick up next and build your box! Let's talk about vintages! What exactly is a vintage and what difference does it make? What Does Vintage Mean? Do all wines have a vintage? When Does Vintage Matter the Most?

Cheaper Wines From Big Producers: As we all know, not all wines are made by independent, heavily-bearded winos - there are some massive conglomerates out there which require a high level of consistency in order to shift their units. Now onto our favourite part.. Build my box.