# vintage

/ˈvɪntɪdʒ/ (US) · /vˈɪntɪdʒ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/vintage
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. year of production

noun · CEFR B2

the specific year or place that something was made, especially wine.

For teachers: the year or place in which something was produced, particularly used to identify the origin and quality of wine.

- The label on the bottle shows that the vintage was 2015.
- Connoisseurs often debate whether the 1990 vintage produced a superior Bordeaux compared to the more celebrated 1982 harvest.

Usage: Often used with a specific year.

### 2. old but high quality

adjective · CEFR B2

describing something from the past that is still high quality and stylish.

For teachers: denoting something from a previous era that is recognized for its enduring appeal, quality, or classic style.

- She loves wearing vintage clothes from the 1950s.
- The collector spent years sourcing vintage car parts to ensure the restoration remained authentic to the original 1960s design.

Teaching tip: Learners should distinguish 'vintage' from 'antique'; vintage usually refers to items 20–100 years old, while antiques are older.

### 3. typical of someone

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

showing the best or most typical qualities of a person or their work.

For teachers: representing the best or most characteristic examples of a person's work or behavior.

- The striker scored a goal that was vintage Ronaldo.
- The director's latest film features a vintage blend of dark humor and sweeping cinematography that fans have come to expect.

Usage: Often used before a name or as a predicate adjective.

### 4. to harvest grapes

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to pick grapes to make wine.

For teachers: to harvest grapes for the purpose of winemaking.

- The workers began to vintage the grapes in early September.
- The estate prefers to vintage the crop by hand to ensure only the most mature clusters are selected for the premium labels.

Usage: Primarily used in the context of viticulture.

## Examples

- This wine is from a very good vintage.
- The collector spent years searching for a rare 1945 vintage to complete his cellar.
- While the 2018 vintage was characterized by an unusually dry summer, the resulting grapes produced a wine of remarkable depth and structural complexity.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.