good first wine

[wondersofwine]

Old vines often produce better grapes, thus better wine. Part of it is that the yield (number of grapes per cluster or vine) is less with older vines, so the grapes get more of the nourishment through the deep roots and more exposure to sunshine. Most vines don't even produce enough grapes for making wine until their fifth or sixth year and old vines (thirty, fifty, even seventy years or more) are valued for their grapes with concentrated flavor. In the United States many producers will mention "old vines" on the label, particularly with Zinfandels. In France the phrase is "Vielles Vignes" or just "V.V." Red Burgundy wine (from the Pinot Noir grape) also benefits from old vine and root stock.