Vintage Champagne: A Timeless Elegance

Explore our curated collection of vintage Champagnes and experience the elegance and sophistication of these timeless treasures.

SHOP VINTAGE & PRESTIGE

 

What is Vintage Champagne?

Vintage Champagne is not just any sparkling wine; it's a testament to a particular year's excellence. Unlike non-vintage Champagne, which blends wines from multiple years to achieve a consistent taste, vintage Champagne is made exclusively from grapes harvested in a specific year. This means that each bottle is a snapshot of the unique climatic conditions, grape quality, and winemaking techniques of that year.

 

Discover the Magic of Vintage Champagne

Every bottle of vintage Champagne is a journey back in time, offering a taste of the past and a glimpse into the artistry of winemaking. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply indulging in life's finer pleasures, vintage Champagne is the perfect choice.

 

How to tell if Champagne is Vintage 

So if you see a year stamped on your bottle of bubbles, then it's a vintage. The year of the vintage is always displayed on the front label of the Champagne bottle.

 

Treat Vintage Champagne Differently to Enjoy Full Flavour

You will get more flavour from the vintage Champagne if you serve the wine at 12-14°C rather than the typical 6-8°C for NV.

Always allow the vintage to breathe for up to 30 minutes first to release maximum aromas. 

Vintage champagne flutes have rounded sides to concentrate the bubbles in the middle of the glass. The shape of a glass affects the flavours and bring out aromas and finish. The bowl of a tulip-shaped champagne glass enhances the taste and allows for the aromas to develop to their fullest. 

 

What is Vintage Champagne?

Some people are unsure as to what makes a Champagne vintage or non-vintage (NV). What makes a champagne ‘vintage’ is that it is made from the grapes of only one year's harvest. Vintage champagne is known for only being made in the years where the grapes ripen perfectly. This means that vintages from different years all have their own individual character. Vintage doesn't mean that the Champagne is old!  It just means that it's made from grapes from one single year. Non-vintage Champagne, on the other hand, is a blend of grapes from harvests from different years. So if you see a year stamped on your bottle of bubbles, then it's a vintage. 


The French term for vintage champagne is millésimé -  when a year of production is considered to be “exceptional” champagne makers assemble various wines produced that year from different villages. Vintage Champagne, also known as millesime, is created from grapes harvested during a specific year. Not all years are deemed “Vintage”, only certain years with exceptional harvests can be declared as vintage and this status is determined by the individual Champagne Houses. 

Once vintage Champagne has been blended, legally it must mature for 3 years before it can be sold to the public. Champagne Houses will commonly age their bottles for longer periods.

Legally vintage champagne must be kept in cellars for at least three years before the sediment may be removed, however, most of the top quality producers leave the champagne to be aged for a few years longer than this. 

 

 

Was yours a vintage year?

Some of the most memorable (good and bad) in recent years

 

2001 

The worst vintage in living memory- highly unlikely to find any vintage

 

2002

Generally a warm, dry vintage with a period of showers in both August and September. Both of which were followed by warm dry conditions.

 

2004

Early reports suggested an excellent vintage with a wonderful balance of sugars and acidity. Some very desirable Champagnes have evolved from this year.

 

2006

An up and down vintage, bright and warm initially, a moderate & cool pattern in August concerned many producers who were happy with a warming shift in September. Some good vintage Champagnes were produced. 

 

2008

Growers were forced to wait on the warming August and September period but a few good vintage Champagnes were produced

 

2009

A quality summer produced a clean crop of pleasurable Champagnes and many reserves were replenished.

 

2010

Varied and mixed results for many due to Spring rains

 

 

 

The Champagne & Gift Company
Sending Gifts Around The World

Sourcing from top producers we pride ourselves on the quality, taste and smoothness of our Champagne.
  Our prestige award-winning Grand Reserve Champagne is shipped directly from France and we supply this to customers under their own brands. 
 
We also supply Champagnes from many of the major Champagne Houses and each gift is beautifully presented and comes with its own gift message card.  
 
Read more about our Champagnes

 

The Champagne and Gift Company
Leading supplier of personalised Champagne and Branded Champagne gifts