Vintage Labels
Vintage is a term that refers to the year the grapes were harvested. In the United States, at least 85% of the grapes must be from a single year if the term is used on the label.
The use of Vintage Wine Labels in the United States
But if the wine is from a specific AVA, at least 95% of the grapes must be from a single year. In Port and sparkling wine production, a Vintage year usually indicates a very high quality product. Winemakers use grapes from a single Vintage only in the best years.
In lesser years, the winemaker will use reserve wines from other Vintages to make an “NV,” or Non Vintage blend. This is not to say that NV blends are inferior; they are often exceptionally balanced.
Wines labeled NV are blends of grapes from different vintage years. This technique is used to balance out the deficiencies of a particular year as well as to make production more consistent.
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