Extreme weather conditions can sometimes make the harvest small and\/or lower in quality. Large producers usually own so many vineyards, or buy grapes from such wide areas, that they can produce relatively consistent wine regardless of the vintage. On the other hand, a very small producer with their own vineyard is more vulnerable to variation\u2014for example, frost or gray mold might wipe out almost the entire harvest. Especially in poorer years, the winemaker’s skills are put to the test. It’s easier to make good wine from good grapes than from inferior ones. The quality of the grapes is always the most important quality factor for the final wine, but fortunately, a skilled winemaker’s choices can ensure that even in a weaker year, the wine turns out well. <\/p>\n\n
The vintage can also affect wine prices. For example, 2012 was such a catastrophically small harvest in many areas of Europe that in several regions the prices of grapes or wine even doubled compared to the previous good year. <\/p>\n\n
The most affordable fruity wines are often meant to be enjoyed within 1-2 years of harvest\u2014after that, they won’t improve any further. But then there are many quality wines that collectors buy for their cellars to age. For these, vintages matter a lot. Collectors have studied the annual conditions of different wine regions and the conclusions drawn from them about the wines’ aging potential. <\/p>\n\n
Vintage charts can help with this\u2014they’re published by wine region authorities and many wine publications, for example. They’re fun to browse just for interest, even if only to find out what the harvest year might have been like in the Champagne region during your birth year. <\/p>\n\n
You can find Alko’s vintage charts for different wine regions here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n