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How do I Know if Wine is a Rare Vintage?

Erika Peterson
Erika Peterson

A rare wine vintage is difficult to find. You will not be able to buy it at your local retailer. You can tell a rare vintage first from its date. For red wines an old date usually means a rare vintage, but this is not true for white wines. The best white wines are less than ten years old. Some great vintages of red wine include 1986 and 1983 Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir.

It is also important to pay attention to the winery when you are looking for a rare vintage. The rarest and most difficult to obtain wines are from wineries that no longer exist. If a particular type of wine is not made any more, that would make any previous vintages rare and definitely worth obtaining. To really comprehend how to distinguish a rare vintage, it is important to understand what the word vintage means.

A rare vintage of wine is not an easy find.
A rare vintage of wine is not an easy find.

The world vintage pertains to the crop of grapes. Most higher-end wines are made from a certain crop or harvest of grapes. These grapes are usually grown in the same area, and often on the same vineyard. The best vintages are made from grapes that are grown in ideal conditions. Perfect conditions create incomparable flavors and aromas.

A rare vintage can also occur when something unusual occurs prior or during the harvest. A great example of this is ice wine, which is made from grapes that froze on the vine. It is rare, and it can be quite expensive. However, many people agree that it is worth every penny for its taste and unique blend of flavors.

The best white wines are less than ten years old.
The best white wines are less than ten years old.

A rare vintage of wine will dazzle your taste buds, and it may even drain your pocketbook. A rare vintage looks, smells and tastes different than any other type of wine. It is unique, and it is a bottle that cannot be found one just any store shelf. In fact, the best vintages of wine are so rare that they are difficult to find. These bottles are sold from specialty wine retailers, wineries and even on the auction block.

Most higher-end wines are made from a certain crop or harvest of grapes.
Most higher-end wines are made from a certain crop or harvest of grapes.

An unmarked green bottle was one of the rarest vintages ever sold. The glass bottle had an inscription that dated back to 1787, and it was found behind a wall in a Paris building. It is believed that the wine was made in a old winery that was once owned by Thomas Jefferson.

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    • A rare vintage of wine is not an easy find.
      By: albphoto
      A rare vintage of wine is not an easy find.
    • The best white wines are less than ten years old.
      By: Dasha Petrenko
      The best white wines are less than ten years old.
    • Most higher-end wines are made from a certain crop or harvest of grapes.
      By: ncoyot
      Most higher-end wines are made from a certain crop or harvest of grapes.
    • A rare, vintage bottle of wine will only be sold at speciality wine retailers and wineries.
      By: unclepodger
      A rare, vintage bottle of wine will only be sold at speciality wine retailers and wineries.