Vintage Sparkling & Champagne

Vintage sparkling wine with history

Opening an older sparkling wine from our collection is like letting the past step forward in the glass. At Bottles With History, we store these historic wines under the most optimal conditions, so they can be enjoyed exactly as the winemaker originally dreamed. Through a maturation period typically lasting 20 to 60 years, each bottle has developed a depth and complexity that makes them ideal for those moments when the wine must be something truly special and offer an authentic taste experience.

Experience classic regions for sparkling wine

Join us on a journey through the world’s most renowned wine regions, where the local terroir and historic traditions merge beautifully. Here, over generations, people have refined the art of creating vintage wines that over decades develop a complex character that only long rest in the cellar can bring forth.

Champagne from historic houses

At the heart of French wine production, we find the well-known traditions where a vintage wine is created exclusively from one specific and remarkable harvest. Vinification often takes place parcel by parcel, so the cellar masters can assess the particular traits of the harvest and compose a harmonious blend before the wine undergoes its second fermentation in the bottle itself. It is precisely during this long ageing on the lees – which often stretches over a decade for the best vintages – that the wine achieves its iconic, deep aromas of brioche and toasted nuts.

Italian vintage bubbles

Italy’s answer to the great classic wines is likewise created according to the traditional method, where the high-altitude vineyards in the Alps and Piedmont give the grapes ideal conditions. The cool climate and the pronounced temperature fluctuations ensure a slow ripening that preserves a fine acidity and aromatic freshness. After long ageing in deep, underground cellars, these Italian vintage wines, which are primarily based on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, achieve a fantastic structure and a creamy texture that will delight around the dinner table.

Brut and Extra Brut styles

To find the wine that best suits your taste preferences, it is worth knowing the dosage, that is, the wine’s residual sugar. Extra Brut contains no or only a hint of added sugar, which provides an incredibly crisp and mineral experience, where the grapes’ true origin stands out clearly. Brut, on the other hand, allows a little more sweetness, creating a softer mouthfeel and a beautiful, rounded balance between the wine’s natural acidity and its aged aromas.

Characteristics of mature sparkling wines

When a wine is given peace to mature for 20 to 60 years, its sensory expression is transformed completely. These concrete changes in appearance, aroma, and texture are exactly what makes it a fascinating experience to enjoy an older vintage.

• Colour development: Through decades of slow oxidation, the wine’s colour typically transforms from a light, golden tone to deep and radiant amber and mahogany hues.
• Softer carbonation: The natural pressure in the bottle decreases over the years, as the gas slowly escapes through the cork, transforming the original sharp fizz into an incredibly fine and creamy mousse.
• Tertiary aromas: The long contact with the lees, also known as autolysis, brings forward complex and savoury aromatic notes that evoke toasted brioche, truffle, and nuts.
• Notes of honey and beeswax: A gentle and slow micro-oxidation adds deep, rich layers of beeswax, honey, and dried fruit to the wine’s flavour profile.
• Integrated acidity and texture: Chemical processes as well as proteins released from the yeast integrate the acidity beautifully, removing the sharp edge and leaving a full-bodied and silky-soft mouthfeel.

How to serve older vintages optimally

To get the best experience from a wine that has rested for many decades, gentle handling is required. Older vintages are extremely fragile, and by following this simple advice, you ensure that the wine’s bouquet and the fine bubbles come fully into their own when served.

1. Preparation and decanting: Let the bottle stand upright for 24 hours before opening, so natural sediment can settle at the bottom without the cork drying out. By all means avoid decanting the wine, as the sudden oxidation will remove the remaining bubbles and destroy the delicate aromas.
2. Temperature control: Serve the wine lightly chilled at 10 to 14 degrees rather than ice cold. This temperature lets the nuanced aromas of nuts and honey bloom, while the carbonation remains stable. Feel free to place the bottle in the refrigerator for three to four hours before dinner to hit the ideal temperature.
3. Opening the bottle: Old corks can lose their elasticity and become porous over time. It is advantageous to use a two-pronged cork puller, which is carefully pushed down along the sides of the cork so it can be pulled out whole without leaving crumbs in the wine.
4. Choice of glass: Instead of the traditional narrow flûtes, you should choose tulip-shaped glasses or ordinary white wine glasses. The broader surface gives the mature wine room to breathe, which gathers and highlights the wine’s deep bouquet on the nose.

Safe delivery of your next tasting experience

When you shop at Bottles With History, you can feel completely confident that your precious bottles are handled with the greatest care all the way to your door. We know that mature vintages require special consideration during shipping, and that is why we offer flexible solutions as well as fast next-day delivery, so the wine arrives under the absolute best conditions. With a TrustScore of 4,6 out of 5 and a strong focus on personal customer service, we are always ready to ensure that your experience is both safe and professional – from the order to the first memorable sip.

If you want a more grand experience, you can explore our selection of magnum bottles and wines, which offer even more intense depth and character.