If you're a wine lover, you've certainly heard of Vintage Port, the category that inspires the famous expression ‘it's like Port wine, the older the better.’

But what does it really mean to be a ‘Vintage’? And what makes this wine so exclusive?

In this article, we explain why Vintage Port is so special and distinct from other wines: from its production in exceptional harvest years to its unique ageing in the bottle, which gives it incomparable flavours and aromas. We also show you how to taste it properly to guarantee an unforgettable experience.

Belonging to the Ruby Port family, the Vintage category corresponds to wines that are only produced in exceptional harvest years, using grapes from a single year.

When the grapes used to make this wine come from a single farm, the name “ Single Quinta” can also be used, indicating the name of the property in question.

However, unlike what happens with  Colheita Port wines, Vintage Ports are designed to age in bottles for several decades, after aging for two years in wood. This process will allow a gradual evolution of aromas and flavors and add additional complexity to the wine.

It is this ability to evolve in the bottle over time that gives Vintage Port a unique character, making it an appealing wine at all stages of its aging.

Typically, in the first five years of life, it presents itself as a wine with an intense profile, which translates into a brilliant ruby tone and exuberant aromas of red and wild fruits, supported by a solid structure of tannins.

As it ages, the color of Vintage Port becomes softer and the aromas gain greater complexity. At this stage, the wine shows a new facet, revealing notes of herbs and spices, mineral touches and nuances of black fruit.

This chameleonic and continuous process of evolution means that Vintage Port wine is appreciated, both in its youth and in more advanced stages of maturation.

To be classified as Vintage Port, the wine needs to meet strict criteria established by the Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto (IVDP).

Therefore, in the second year after the harvest, Port wine houses prepare the lots they intend to submit for this certification. The samples are sent to the IVDP, where they are subjected to chemical and organoleptic analysis in a tasting room. If the wine manages to obtain a rating of 9 points out of 10, it is awarded the VIntage Port certification, and bottling will have to be done by the end of that same year.

When the majority of houses manage to approve a Vintage Port from a specific harvest year, that year can be declared, by the Port Wine Confraternity, as a classic vintage year.

Going back half a century, these were the years officially recognized as “vintage years”: 1977, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Sharing a seal of quality, the Vintage Port wines produced in each of these periods nevertheless present unique characteristics, resulting from the climatic conditions of the year in question and the winemaking methods specifically used.

Therefore, when considering the purchase of a Vintage Port wine, we suggest that you investigate the particularities of each year, as these nuances can significantly impact the tasting experience.

Before proceeding to the long-awaited moment of tasting a Port wine, there are some steps that you must follow, to get the most out of the experience.

The first thing to do is decant the wine, in order to eliminate any deposits and soften the aromas. Don't worry, this operation is simpler than you think. In this article,  remember the main precautions you should take during decantation.

Once this mission is completed, you have the green light for the tasting. We recommend that Vintage Port wine be consumed within the first few hours after opening the bottle, when, after being properly aerated, its aromas can be fully appreciated.

If you want to taste and understand the exceptional character of this wine, visit our UVA Wine Shop, where you will find an excellent selection of Vintage Port wines. Explore our suggestions and receive an authentic treasure of Portuguese oenology in your home.