a season's yield of wine from a vineyard
"The sommelier recommended that we try last year's vintage, noting it was their best harvest in over a decade."
the oldness of wines
"The sommelier recommended a vintage from 1982 because it had developed those complex, earthy notes that only time can create in fine wine."
The yield of grapes or wine from a vineyard or district during one season.
"The 2018 vintage was exceptional, producing some of the most concentrated wines that region has ever seen."
In plain English: Vintage refers to something made or produced during a specific time period that is considered old and stylish.
"She found a vintage camera at the flea market."
To harvest (grapes).
"The winemaker carefully vintage the Cabernet grapes before they began to ferment."
In plain English: To vintage something means to treat it as if it is old and valuable, even if it isn't actually from that time period.
"They vintage old cars to restore them for sale."
Of or relating to a vintage, or to wine identified by a specific vintage.
"The sommelier recommended opening our 1982 vintage Chateau Margaux for the dinner party tonight."
In plain English: Vintage describes something that is old but still stylish and high quality.
"That vintage car has been restored to its original glory."
Usage: Use "vintage" as an adjective before nouns like clothing or cars to describe items from a specific past era known for high quality. Avoid using it simply to mean old; the term implies that the age of the item adds value rather than just indicating wear and tear.
The word "vintage" comes from the Latin vindēmia, which originally meant a gathering of grapes. It traveled into English through French and Middle English to describe wine produced in a specific year.