What does Grand Vintage mean on champagne?
“Grand Vintage” is a term used by champagne producers to indicate that the wine is a vintage champagne, which means that it is made from grapes harvested in a single specific year. This is in contrast to non-vintage champagnes, which are blends of wines from multiple years.
Vintage champagnes like the Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage are considered to be of higher quality than non-vintage champagnes, as they reflect the unique characteristics of the grapes grown in a particular year, which can include variations in climate, soil, and other factors. The vintage year must appear on the label of a vintage champagne, and the wine must have been aged for at least three years in the bottle before release.
The term “Grand Vintage” is often used to indicate that the wine is a particularly high-quality vintage champagne, and is often aged for longer than the minimum three years. Some producers also release their Grand Vintage champagnes only in exceptional years when the grapes are of outstanding quality.