Ask the Wine Geek November 2007

Q. My favorite wine says “old vines” on the label. Do old vines always make better wine?

A. While grapes from old vines are not a guarantee of great wine, they can make a difference. As grapevines age, they tend to become less energetic. This means that while they produce far less fruit, the grapes become more intense and flavorful. For this reason, top estates routinely rely on vines that may be anywhere from 20 to 100 years old. And many wineries refuse to use grapes from young vines at all—these grapes are simply no match for the powerful, concentrated berries produced by the grizzled elder statesmen of the vineyard.

Related Stories

If you enjoyed reading this story, Ask the Wine Geek November 2007, then you might enjoy these other stories.

• Ask the Wine Geek November 2006
• Ask the Wine Geek September 2007
• Ask the Wine Geek
• Ask the Wine Geek
• Ask the Wine Geek

Share This Story With Others:



There are no current discussions for this article. Why not be the first?

Post your comments on this article