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Learn more about investing in wine

A wine's vintage tells you in which year the grapes were picked. Most still wines come from a single vintage and the labels will give you the year in which the wine was made. Fortified and sparkling wines, including champagne, are generally non-vintage as they are frequently created from a blend of different vintages. Occasionally there is an exception to this rule when, in an outstanding year, vintage champagne and vintage port will be made. In the case of champagne, grapes have to be of a very high standard and this means that there are only four or five such vintages in a decade. Port has to be matured in oak barrels for two years before it's quality can be assessed, only then will the decision be made as to whether or not it is of vintage calibre.

Vintages differ from one year to another due to the weather. The micro-climate of any one wine-growing region can vary dramatically from year to year. Climatic conditions affect different grape varieties in different ways. These elements all have to be taken into account by the wine producer, with the experienced and skilful grower extracting the best possible performance from the grapes.

 

The best wines come from the "first growths", closely followed by the "super seconds". Then come the "third", "fourth" and "fifth" growths. It is generally thought that the better the wine, the longer it takes to mature, with "first growths" taking between 15 and 20 years. Bordeaux offers the finest red wines and has a proven track record for bottling a fantastic product - it is therefore a good place to start your wine investment.

Below are links relating to fine wines:

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How to buy wine
How to store wine
How to choose wine
Insuring wine
Learn more about wine
Selling your wine
Tax guide on wine

 

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