Pick up two bottles from the same Champagne house and one might carry a year on the label while the other doesn’t. That single detail – vintage or non-vintage – tells you a lot about how the wine was made and what to expect in the glass.
Non-vintage: the house signature
Most Champagne is non-vintage, usually marked “NV” or simply with no year. It’s blended from several different harvests, which lets the cellar master smooth out the ups and downs of the Champagne climate and produce the same recognisable house style year after year. When you love a particular brand’s character, it’s the non-vintage you’re falling for.
Vintage: a snapshot of one year
A vintage Champagne is made entirely from grapes grown in a single, exceptional harvest, and the year is printed proudly on the label. Houses only “declare” a vintage in years they consider good enough, so these wines are less frequent, made in smaller quantities, and aged for longer before release – all of which adds depth, complexity and cost.
How they taste
Non-vintage tends to be fresh, consistent and ready to enjoy straight away – the perfect everyday Champagne. Vintage is usually richer, more layered and more expressive of its particular year, often rewarding a little patience in the cellar.
Which is worth it?
For an aperitif, a party or simply a reliable favourite, non-vintage is the smart, versatile choice. Save vintage for the moments that deserve something special, or for when you want to taste exactly what one remarkable Champagne year can do.
Curious to compare the two side by side? Explore our map to find places near you that pour genuine Champagne by the glass or bottle, and join a community of fellow enthusiasts chasing the same sparkle around the world.