Vintage Wine Basics

A vintage wine is, properly speaking, a wine that is made purely, or primarily, from the harvest of a single year’s grapes – in contrast to non-vintage or blended wines, which may incorporate grapes grown over more than a single year. This latter technique has advantages in terms of consistency, but it is unlikely to yield a wine of the very highest quality.

As a result, a vintage wine label will always have a year printed on it, and will usually, though not always, hail from a single vineyard.

What makes a good vintage wine?

This, of course, is the sixty-four thousand dollar question. Many factors combine to make a good vintage wine. First and foremost, winemakers will normally use their best grapes from their top quality vineyards to make a prized vintage wine, and so they are using the best raw materials in the manufacture of the wine. Factors that can affect the quality of the wine include the amount of sunlight and rain that the vines have received over the growing season, the quality of the soil in which the vines grow, and the skill of the winemaker himself, as well as the care the vineyards keepers put into making and fermenting their wines.

Why is a vintage wine different than a regular wine?

Vintage wines are not “different” from regular wines specifically; rather, they denote the result of a single year’s wine growth at a particular vineyard, and so normally represent a winemaker’s best product. However, this also means that vintage wines will normally be more expensive than most regular wines, but on the other hand, they can be expected to improve in the bottle and increase in value, if they are stored away for a number of years, rather than drinking immediately. The best vintage wines have deep, complex flavors that will mature and improve over time, and so will repay a few years’ patience on their owners’ part!

Do all vintage wines increase in value?

The short answer to this is no. In fact, even wines that will benefit from a few years’ storage before drinking will not necessarily be more valuable as a result. Also, many of the wines sold online and in supermarkets, even expensive wines of very good quality, are designed to be drunk while young, and they simply don’t benefit from being kept for long periods.

In general, only top quality wines from a “blue-chip” winery can be considered safe bets to increase in value, and even then only if they come from a good year. As more and more vintage wines from a given year are opened and drunk, collectors and buyers will form a more accurate view of the worth of that year, and this may lead to your carefully stored vintage wine bottle being considered second-class wine, not worth buying at all! For this reason, it’s best to be cautious when buying vintage wine with a view to selling it on in the future.

Why are some years better than others?

The quality of a vintage wine depends on many factors. Some, such as the variety of grape grown and the location, remain the same at each vineyard from year to year – many wines, particularly in Europe, are grown from vines that are over 25 years old, and sometimes, in rare cases, up to 100 years old!

The factor that will change from year to year is climate. The most important issue is temperature; in warm years, grapes will grow quicker and ripen sooner, producing better wine. Equally, vines need just the right amount of rain over the growing season; too dry, and the grapes will be small and shriveled; too wet, and they will be too plump, producing a diluted, inferior juice. Sunshine and wind, too, have a similar effect on the grapes – so as skilled as the winemaker may be, ultimately he is, like all those who make their living from the soil, dependent on the weather.

Where can you go for more information on vintage wines on the web?

You can learn more about vintage wines from Wine On The Web, which has loads of advice on choosing, appreciating, and buying vintage wine, as well as a vintage chart showing which years are worth pursuing and which are less so. The website of Decanter magazine, one of the world’s best wine magazines; and the website of Robert Parker, who is without question the most respected, influential wine critic in the world, provide excellent vintage wine information. Parker’s website has a wealth of information on vintage wines from all over the winemaking world.

Cheap Top Selling Wines

As any wine drinker knows, great wines can be found at reasonable and affordable prices. If you need access to a wider selection than is available, or simply enjoy the convenience of buying online, you’ll be pleased to find that you can get a great bottle of cheap wine online, delivered to your door. Moreover, online ordering makes it easy to have a case of your favorite cheap wine delivered, typically at a decent discount. Finding a good cheap wine can be a challenge, but armed with information, you’re sure to find a vintage you will enjoy to fill your glass. Many online wine shops, from http://www.wine.com to http://www.mywinesdirect.com/ provide information about the wines they sell, helping you make a selection you will be pleased with, or you can read wine reviews at http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Home/ to choose the best cheap wine.

Legalities of Buying Wine Online

While in May of 2005 the U.S. Supreme Court supported the rights of individuals and wineries to ship and sell wine across state lines, some states have enacted new laws making ordering wine illegal. Some online wine shops have you select your state prior to shopping for your beloved cheap wine, so that you can be certain your order will be legal. Wine cannot be shipped via the U.S. postal service, and you should expect that it will be necessary to have someone over 21 available to sign for the package when it arrives. Since it is helpful to be aware, http://wi.shipcompliant.com/Home.aspx can provide you with information on the legalities of having wine shipped to your home in your state.

Great and Affordable Red Wines

A review of several top wine lists reveals that there are a number of good cheap red wine options in an affordable price range. Traditionally served with heavier foods, red sauces, and red meat, red wines may sport flavors ranging from chocolate to cherry, and can be fruity or very dry. Cheap, in wine terms, is often classed as under fifteen to twenty-five dollars, but in looking at a number of online wine retailers, several very good cheap red wines under ten dollars a bottle are available. Case discounts can make these an even better deal. For a great cheap red, try Pillar Box Padthaway Red at $9.99 a bottle, Terrazas 2005 Malbec at $10.79 a bottle, or De Majo Norante Sangiovese 2004 at $9.99 a bottle. Any of these wonderful cheap red wine options are sure to be perfect next to a rich red sauce, a good steak, or that perfect beef brisket.

Light and Tasty White Wines

A wide variety of truly excellent cheap white wines are also available from a number of online vendors. White wine can range from sweet to dry, and is preferred by many people for casual drinking, as well as serving with salads, pastas, poultry, and chicken. Some good cheap wine options in whites well suited to food include the Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling, available at http://ste-michelle.com/ste_michelle_riesling.cfm, the lovely Robert Mondavi Pinot Grigio, which can be purchased at http://www.blanchardsliquor.com/sku20411.html, and the rich and somewhat drier Gallo of Sonoma Chardonnay available at http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?DCMP=froogle&item=54990.

Wine: Always a Welcome Gift

Wine is an ideal housewarming, hostess, birthday, or holiday gift. Many online retailers offer gift baskets or gift sets. A typical cheap wine gift basket includes wine, crackers, cheese, and chocolate. Wine gift baskets are available in a variety of themes, as well. Cheap wine gift baskets are even available, or you could order a variety of cheap wine on your own and compile your own cheap wine gift basket for friends or family. A wine gift basket would even be a beautiful and appreciated wedding gift, allowing the couple to escape for a romantic afternoon. A wine gift set often includes several wines of various types, and while you could easily assemble a cheap wine assortment yourself choosing some of the best cheap wines out there, you will find that online retailers will do so for you, as well.

Finishing Touches: The Best in Wine Accessories

If you are assembling your own wine gift with good cheap wine you bought online or in a local shop, consider including some great accessories. Cheap wine glasses, a good corkscrew, and perhaps some wine markers, coasters, or lovely napkins are an affordable way to finish off a lovely cheap wine gift basket that anyone would be pleased to receive. You could even include a cheap cooler, wine loaded inside. Other fun packaging options, if you like thinking outside the cheap wine gift basket for a cheap wine gift, might be a picnic bag or basket, a great wine rack, or a handmade bag. Many craft stores sell cheap wine boxes that also offer attractive packaging for your cheap wine bargains.