Exploring Vintage, Non-Vintage, and Multi-Vintage Wines—A Guide

Although the world of wine is a wonderful area to explore, all of the jargon may be confusing and intimidating at times. When you enter a store, you will be shown a year or letter such as N. What exactly do these imply?

In this article, you will find out the differences between vintage, non-vintage, and multi-vintage wines. 

Vintage Wines (V.)

Most wines that you see in stores are vintage wines. A vintage wine signifies that the grapes that went into that bottle were planted and harvested in exactly or almost the same year. It means that a sparkling vintage wine will be produced if the manufacturer has a great year with their grapes. Note that the weather where the grapes were grown and other factors influence the wine’s taste, which is a crucial element of any wine.

Winemakers are constantly working with their grapes to create the best possible selection of wines from each harvest. Not all wines can be vintage, and this is because not all grapes can pass the necessary criteria to be considered premium. 

Vintage wines are typically purchased and stored for special events. Certain, sparkling wines, like Champagne, can be enjoyed for a long time. 

In the UK, 2018 was a particularly exciting year for wine. It had quite a long summer that made the grapes mature well. People considered it a great time for vintage wine in the country. Because it was one of the best grape harvests ever, customers anticipate the complete maturation and release of the 2018 vintage sparkling wines. 

Non-Vintage Wines (N.V.)

Non-vintage wines are prepared with a base wine, which is made during the initial step of production, and blends of grapes from different years. Compared to other kinds of wines, the taste profile of non-vintage wines is more constant.

Multi-Vintage wines (M.V.)

Multi-vintage wines are considered a relatively new addition to the local wine sector. They are blends of grapes from different years, similar to non-vintage bottles. The distinction is that a multi-vintage wine is not necessarily made with the same amount of base wine.

To summarise, vintage wines are made with grapes from the same year. On the other hand, non-vintage wines are produced with a variety of grapes and some base wines. Lastly, multi-vintage wines are crafted with base wine that is relatively less than non-vintage ones.

Quite admiringly, English winemakers are beginning to build up an impressive catalogue of base wines from different years, giving these connoisseurs additional alternatives for future experiments. The local wine industry is definitely evolving, and you are always welcome to indulge in the goodness of exquisite wines from unique regions across the globe.

As you start your journey as a wine drinker, you get to experience the difference between these three types of wines! We recommend getting vintage and non-vintage wine bottles from the same producer to fully explore their distinct flavour notes. Because most vintage wines from the same producer are rarely on sale at the same time, it will be a good idea to save your favourite vintage bottle and buy one when the next release comes out. 

If you are interested in doing business with a wine company in the UK, turn to Cru Wine. We offer fine wine with a modern approach and make buying wine easy and simple with a more enriched experience. View our offers today.