1961 Wine and Port Vintage
Vintage Summary and Recommendations: Welcome to Vintage Wine and Port's 1961 wine page. Read on for our summary of the 1961 vintage, our top recommendations and region reports. Scroll down to see all of our wines currently available. If you cannot find what you are looking for please call us on 01425 837177 or Contact Us. We would love to help you with your wine choice!
The 1961 vintage enjoyed some extraordinary moments, particularly in France. For Bordeaux, the vintage was legendary with great wines produced in Pessac-Léognan, Pauillac, Saint-Julien, Pomerol and – although less uniform – Margaux. However, as is often the case when conditions are ripe for perfect Bordeaux, the year was not so conducive for the sweet wines of Sauternes, and they tended to be more of a mixed bag. The year was also excellent for both Burgundy and Beaujolais, as well as Champagne, the Rhône and the Loire Valley. Although information is limited for Alsace, what does exist suggests it was very good. Outside of France, the vintages for both Piedmont and Tuscany were excellent and the best Barolo should still be drinking well now.
Any of these wines would make a fabulous wine gift for a 65th Anniversary or birthday.
Our Wine Expert currently recommends the following wines for this year:
This Year in History: Fun Fact: The farthing coin, used since the thirteenth century, ceases to be legal tender in the United Kingdom.
Eurovision Winner: Luxembourg with the song "Nous Les Amoureux"
Top Grossing Movie: 101 Dalmations
Bordeaux: This is one of the legendary vintages of the century. Although most of the 1961 wines are now fading slowly, the top examples continue to shine through offering concentrated, ripe fruit with amazing bouquets. The crop was tiny and there are very few examples available. Provided the bottles have been stored correctly these wines should last for another few years.
Italian: In Italy, 1961 is considered to be one of the greatest vintages of the 20th century. The wines from Piedmont (Barolo, Barbaresco and Barbera) and Tuscany (Chianti, Brunello) are outstanding. Now fully mature these wines, with careful cellaring, will still keep for many years to come.
Portugal: While not generally a declared year, the hot weather produced some concentrated ports in 1961. The harvest started in extremely hot conditions at the river quinta in early September, progressing in other areas until the end of the month making it a long, drawn out vintage. The picking required a very rigorous selection which entailed picking out the burnt and imperfect grapes from the bunches before putting them in the baskets. This led to a small harvest, making bottles from this year quite rare. Making a great wine gift for any birthday or anniversary, the 1961 ports produced are still drinking well today.
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50 products found.
Dow's, 1961
Late Bottled Vintage Port High Shoulder level
Dow’s 1961 Late Bottled Vintage Port (Bottled 1965)
Vintage & Style Background
Harvested in 1961 and bottled in 1965 after four years in cask, this LBV represents the traditional style of Late Bottled Vintage Port. Unlike modern filtered LBVs designed for early drinking, these mid-20th century examples were often unfiltered, retaining the depth and structure of a declared Vintage Port. Dow’s, known for its firm, dry-edged house style, produced a Port of real character in this lesser-known but fascinating vintage.
Appearance & Nose
After decades in bottle, the wine now shows a tawny-garnet colour with amber highlights. …
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Price: £375.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Five Roses, 1961
Leone de Castris - Riserva
Clearance Offer | One only £59
1961 Five Roses – Leone de Castris Riserva
The 1961 vintage is recognised as one of the notable post-war years in Italy, producing wines with structure and longevity. Five Roses, created by Leone de Castris in Puglia, is historically one of Italy’s earliest bottled rosé wines, first produced in the 1940s. This Riserva bottling from 1961 represents a rare and fascinating survivor from a formative period in southern Italian winemaking.
Tasting Notes:
Now showing a deep amber-rose hue with copper reflections, the nose is mature and gently oxidative. Aromas of dried strawberry, orange peel and candied red fruits are layered with notes of honey, toasted almond and subtle spice. …
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Price: £59.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Fonseca Port, 1961
Guimaraens Vintage Port Library release from Fonseca cellars Oporto
Rare Bottles of Fonseca Single Quinta Vintage Port obtained directly from the Fonseca Cellars in Oporto
Vintage & Background
The Guimaraens Vintage Port is traditionally bottled in years that are not widely declared, giving Fonseca an opportunity to showcase the house style from excellent harvests that fall outside the classic declarations. 1961 was one such year. While not a universally declared vintage, the conditions in the Douro produced powerful, ageworthy wines. This bottling, released directly from Fonseca’s Oporto cellars as a library release, offers both impeccable provenance and a rare glimpse into the house’s mid-20th century production. …
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Price: £695.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Gattinara, 1961
Luigi Nervi
Vintage & Background
1961 is remembered as one of the greatest Piedmont vintages of the 20th century. While Barolo and Barbaresco gained most of the fame, Gattinara—crafted from Nebbiolo (locally known as Spanna)—also produced exceptional wines with structure and longevity. Luigi Nervi, the oldest continuously operating winery in Gattinara, has long been regarded as a benchmark producer, making wines that combine firm mountain structure with elegance and aromatic complexity.
Appearance & Nose
After more than sixty years, the wine shows a garnet core shading to tawny and amber at the rim. …
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Price: £119.00
Stock: 8 in Stock
Gattinara, 1961
Luigi Nervi - Riserva Speciale
Gattinara is a red Italian wine produced from Nebbiolo grapes grown within the boundaries of the commune of Gattinara which is located in the hills in the north of the province of Vercelli, northwest of Novara in the Piedmont region. The wine is made from a minimum of 90% Nebbiolo grapes and is renowned for its longevity. Notes: a meaty, chunky wine with a subtle, clean nose. Hints of tar and bark, with undertones of cherries and rose petals. Light tannins.
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Price: £129.00
Stock: 3 in Stock
Gattinara, 1961
Fracchia
Clearance Offer | Damaged label as pictured | Only £75
1961 Gattinara – Fracchia
The 1961 vintage is regarded as one of the landmark years in Piedmont, producing wines of structure and remarkable longevity. Gattinara, located in northern Piedmont at the foothills of the Alps, produces Nebbiolo of distinctive character, often showing a slightly firmer structure and mineral edge compared to its southern counterparts. This 1961 bottling from Fracchia reflects a traditional era of winemaking, where patience and extended ageing defined the style.
Tasting Notes:
Now displaying a brick-garnet hue with amber highlights at the rim, the nose is mature and finely layered. …
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Price: £75.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Graham's Port, 1961
1961 Grahams Single Harvest - The Master
The cellar masters collection
1961 SINGLE HARVEST THE MASTER
Paying homage to three generations of Cellar Masters who shaped itsprolonged ageing, Graham's 1961 Single Harvest Tawny Port embodiesa legacy of timeless tradition and craftsmanship. Emerging in the dawnof the 1960s, an era marked by profound cultural shifts, this wine hasthrived for over six decades in the seasoned oak casks of the Graham's Lodge. Each Cellar Master has left an indelible mark on its character, imparting an extraordinary depth and balance. In this edition, Head Winemaker and Master Blender, Charles Symington, unveils the meticulously chosen cask for limited release under The Master label, an exquisite testament to the Cellar Master's Trilogy collection. …
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Price: £1,195.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Krohn Port, 1961
Vintage Port
Library release from Krohn cellars
Vintage & Background
1961 was not a widely declared vintage in the Douro, but some houses produced outstanding Ports with longevity and elegance. Krohn, a producer long respected for both Colheitas and classic Vintage Ports, crafted a wine that has stood the test of time. This bottling, released directly from Krohn’s own cellars as a library release, offers impeccable provenance and a rare opportunity to experience a perfectly matured 1961 Port.
Appearance & Nose
The colour has evolved into deep tawny at the rim with a garnet core, showing its six decades of age. On the nose, aromas of figs, dates, and raisins emerge first, followed by notes of walnuts, cedar, dried rose petals, tobacco, and subtle spice. …
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Price: £495.00
Stock: 3 in Stock
Krohn Port, 1961
Vintage Port
Clearance Offer - High Shoulder level - Was £495 | Now £345
Vintage & Background
1961 was not a widely declared vintage in the Douro, but some houses produced outstanding Ports with longevity and elegance. Krohn, a producer long respected for both Colheitas and classic Vintage Ports, crafted a wine that has stood the test of time. This bottling, released directly from Krohn’s own cellars as a library release, offers impeccable provenance and a rare opportunity to experience a perfectly matured 1961 Port.
Appearance & Nose
The colour has evolved into deep tawny at the rim with a garnet core, showing its six decades of age. On the nose, aromas of figs, dates, and raisins emerge first, followed by notes of walnuts, cedar, dried rose petals, tobacco, and subtle spice. …
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Price: £345.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Nebbiolo, 1961
Vino Pazzo - Ce.Di.Vi
1961 Nebbiolo – Vino Pazzo (Ce.Di.Vi)
The 1961 vintage is regarded as one of the landmark years in Piedmont, producing wines of structure, perfume and impressive longevity. This Nebbiolo from Vino Pazzo (Ce.Di.Vi) reflects a traditional mid-20th-century style, when patient ageing and classical vinification allowed the grape’s natural character to evolve slowly over time.
Tasting Notes:
Now displaying a brick-garnet hue with amber tones at the rim, the nose is mature and expressive. Aromas of dried cherry, rose petal and redcurrant are layered with notes of leather, tobacco leaf and earthy forest floor. …
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Price: £119.00
Stock: 4 in Stock
Nebbiolo, 1961
Luigi Einaudi
1961 Nebbiolo – Luigi Einaudi
The 1961 vintage is regarded as one of the landmark years in Piedmont, producing wines of structure, perfume and impressive longevity. Luigi Einaudi, founded in the late 19th century and associated with the distinguished Einaudi family, has long been recognised for traditional winemaking rooted in respect for Nebbiolo’s ageing potential. This bottle offers a rare opportunity to experience mature Nebbiolo from a celebrated era of classical Piedmont production.
Tasting Notes:
Now displaying a brick-garnet hue with amber highlights at the rim, the nose is beautifully evolved and aromatic. …
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Price: £99.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Pertinace Antico, 1961
F.lli Minuto
1961 Pertinace Antico – F.lli Minuto
The 1961 vintage is recognised as one of the outstanding post-war years in Piedmont, producing wines of structure, longevity and classical character. This Pertinace Antico bottling from F.lli Minuto reflects a traditional era of regional winemaking, when extended ageing and patient cellar maturation shaped the style and evolution of the wine.
Tasting Notes:
Now brick-garnet in colour with amber highlights at the rim, the nose is mature and layered. Aromas of dried cherry, redcurrant and rose petal are interwoven with notes of leather, tobacco leaf and forest floor. …
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Price: £89.00
Stock: 3 in Stock
Rioja, 1961
Faustino I, Gran Reserva
Faustino I Gran Reserva Rioja 1961
The 1961 vintage is one of the most legendary in Rioja’s history, producing wines of extraordinary longevity, elegance and complexity. Faustino I Gran Reserva stands today as a true icon of mature Spanish fine wine.
In the glass, it shows a pale garnet core with pronounced amber and brick hues at the rim, reflecting its long and graceful evolution. The bouquet is intensely complex and refined, offering aromas of dried strawberry, cherry and fig, layered with notes of leather, tobacco, cedar, polished wood, spice, and subtle hints of balsamic and orange peel. …
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Price: £295.00
Stock: 12 in Stock
Rioja, 1961
Bodegas Riojanas, Monte Real Reserva
Remains of labels
Bodegas Riojanas Monte Real Reserva 1961 – Rioja
The 1961 Monte Real Reserva from Bodegas Riojanas is a beautifully mature and highly evocative example of traditional Rioja, offering elegance, subtle complexity and classic charm after more than six decades of ageing. The colour has faded to a pale garnet with pronounced amber and brick tones at the rim, reflecting its long and graceful evolution.
The nose is delicate, refined and wonderfully expressive. Aromas of dried cherry, redcurrant and plum skin are layered with leather, tobacco, old wood, vanilla and gentle coconut from extended American oak ageing. …
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Price: £145.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Salento, 1961
Ruffino Rosso, Puglia
Sweet Red Wine
Salento is in the region of Puglia on the heel of Italy. The Ruffino is a fortified wine made predominantly from the primitivo grape. The wine has a liquorice and spice bouquet, a mediaum body and a long alcoholic finish.
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Price: £189.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Salento, 1961
Bianco, Ruffino, Puglia
Sweet White Fortified Wine
Salento is in the region of Puglia on the heel of Italy. The Ruffino is a fortified wine made predominantly from the primitivo grape. The wine has a liquorice and spice bouquet, a mediaum body and a long alcoholic finish.
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Price: £195.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Sichel & Fils Frères, 1961
Vosne-Romanée "Les Malconsorts"
1961 Vosne-Romanée “Les Malconsorts” – Sichel & Fils Frères
The 1961 vintage in Burgundy is remembered as one of the outstanding post-war years, producing wines of structure, concentration and impressive longevity. From the celebrated village of Vosne-Romanée, and the highly regarded Premier Cru vineyard “Les Malconsorts,” this bottling by Sichel & Fils Frères represents a rare opportunity to experience mature Pinot Noir from a distinguished terroir.
“Les Malconsorts,” situated adjacent to some of Vosne-Romanée’s most revered Grand Cru sites, is known for producing wines of depth, finesse and layered complexity — characteristics that reveal themselves fully with extended bottle age. …
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Price: £295.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Sogno di Bacco, 1961
Umberto Fiore - Riserva
Sogno di Bacco is made from thelong lasting nebbiolo grape. Nebbiolo is a black-skinned red wine grape variety most famous for creating the 'tar and roses' scent of Barolo wines from Piedmont, north-western Italy. The grape's very name is evocative of its home among the misty foothills of the western Alps; the nebbia (Italian for 'fog') after which it is named frequently arrives on early October mornings, when the Nebbiolo harvest is in full swing.
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Price: £79.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Spanna, 1961
F.lli Berteletti - Riserva
Clearance Offer - Last Few | Was £139 | Now £80
A Classic Nebbiolo from Alto Piemonte
The 1961 Spanna Riserva F.lli Berteletti offers a remarkable glimpse into the historic winemaking traditions of northern Piedmont. “Spanna” is the local name for Nebbiolo in Alto Piemonte, where the grape produces elegant, age-worthy wines with a distinctively refined character. F.lli Berteletti, known for their traditional methods, crafted wines that emphasized purity, balance, and the expression of terroir — all hallmarks of classic Alto Piemonte.
A Legendary Vintage
The 1961 vintage is widely celebrated as one of the greatest of the 20th century in Piedmont. …
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Price: £80.00
Stock: 4 in Stock
Spanna, 1961
Luigi Nervi
This Spanna from 1961 shows a deep garnet-red colour with brick-orange edges. The nose opens with dried cherries, rose petal, gentle spice, and tertiary notes of leather, tobacco, and forest floor. On the palate, it is medium-bodied with refined, silky tannins carrying flavours of stewed red fruits, subtle cocoa, and hints of truffle, finishing long, elegant, and balanced.
Decanting: Stand upright for 2–3 days to allow sediment to settle. Decant carefully through a fine strainer and aerate 1–2 hours before serving at 16–18°C. Fragile corks are common; filter any fragments when pouring.
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Price: £139.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Taylor Fladgate, 1961
Quinta de Vargellas Vintage Port
UK Bottled by Dolamore
Taylor’s Quinta de Vargellas Vintage Port 1961
The 1961 vintage is highly regarded in the Douro, producing Vintage Ports of great balance, elegance and longevity. Taylor’s Quinta de Vargellas 1961 stands as a superb single-quinta expression from one of the Douro’s most historic vineyards.
In the glass, it shows a deep amber-tawny core with mahogany and olive highlights, reflecting its long bottle ageing. The bouquet is refined and complex, offering aromas of dried cherry, fig and raisin, layered with notes of orange peel, polished wood, spice, and subtle hints of tobacco and cocoa.
On the palate, the wine is beautifully harmonious, with integrated sweetness, gentle tannins and a fresh, lifted acidity. …
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Price: £695.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Taylor Fladgate, 1961
Colheita Single Harvest Port
Includes Taylor's oak gift box
Taylor’s has an extensive and enviable library of very old Ports and this very limited 60 year old Single Harvest Port which represents the cream of their aged reserves.
Only 3,000 bottles of this phenomenal Port have been released. Nestled in a beautifully illustrated box, we think this limited-edition Port is the ultimate 60th anniversary gift. Or, with its fabulously festive flavour profile, it may well be the perfect Christmas Port.
The cool Taylor’s Cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia are home to one of the most extensive collections of very old Port casks anywhere in the world. Tucked away are a selection of Single Harvest Ports with an immense capacity to age and develop. …
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Price: £425.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Taylor Fladgate, 1961
Colheita Single Harvest Port
No box
Taylor’s has an extensive and enviable library of very old Ports and this very limited 60 year old Single Harvest Port which represents the cream of their aged reserves.
Only 3,000 bottles of this phenomenal Port have been released. Nestled in a beautifully illustrated box, we think this limited-edition Port is the ultimate 60th anniversary gift. Or, with its fabulously festive flavour profile, it may well be the perfect Christmas Port.
The cool Taylor’s Cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia are home to one of the most extensive collections of very old Port casks anywhere in the world. Tucked away are a selection of Single Harvest Ports with an immense capacity to age and develop. …
more >>>
Price: £325.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Tokaji, 1961
Export Monimpex (Half litre, 50cl)
Hungary’s most famous dessert wine is Tokaji the legendary sweet elixir. It can only be spoken in the superlative about this wine, as it is a medicine, a real nectar. The name Tokaji (which is of Protected Designation of Origin) is used for labeling wines from this wine district. The location of the region has a unique climate, beneficial to this particular viniculture, due to the protection of the nearby mountains, long warm autumns and mists that come in from the River Bodrog, creating perfect conditions for noble rot. Creating the botrytised ('aszú') grapes for which the region is famous. A wonderful sweet wine from this renowned producer. …
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Price: £225.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Barolo, 1961
Pin Bologna - Riserva
Clearance Offer | Damaged Label as pictured | Was £149 | Now £99
1961 Barolo – Pin Bologna Riserva
The 1961 vintage is regarded as one of the great post-war years in Piedmont, producing Barolo wines of structure, depth and notable longevity. This Riserva bottling from Pin Bologna reflects a more traditional era of Barolo production, when extended ageing and patient cellar maturation were central to the style.
Tasting Notes:
Now showing a classic brick-garnet colour with amber hues at the rim, the nose is beautifully mature and complex. Aromas of dried cherry, rose petal and redcurrant are layered with notes of leather, tobacco leaf and forest floor. As it opens, hints of truffle, cedarwood and warm spice emerge, adding further dimension. …
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Price: £99.00
Stock: Out of Stock