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1976 Wine and Port Vintage

Vintage Summary and Recommendations: Welcome to Vintage Wine and Port's 1976 wine page. Read on for our summary of the 1976 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 1976 vintage was, for much of the wine world, a mixed bag. For France, the vintage was fairly good with Bordeaux, Sauternes, Burgundy and the Rhône Valley all enjoying a reasonably good year, while the year for Champagne, the Loire and Alsace was excellent. Italy endured a less than successful year while Spain, and Port had good but not great years. Any of these wines would make a fabulous 49 year old wine gift for an Anniversary or birthday.


Our Wine Expert currently recommends the following wines for this year:

  • Quinta da Devesa 1976 Colheita Port (with own gift box)
  • Barbaresco 1976 Bianco Aldo
  • Barolo 1976 Terre del Barolo
  • Chateau Beychevelle 1976 St Julien 4me Cru Classe

  •  
    This Year in History: Fun Fact: The first commercial Concorde flight takes off[6] from Heathrow Airport for Bahrain.
    Eurovision Winner: UNITED KINGDOM with the song "Save Your Kisses For Me" by Brotherhood of Man
    Top Grossing Movie: Rocky
     
    Bordeaux: 1976 wines still offer delightful, attractive drinking if they have been well stored. The wines are characterised as soft-bodied, with low acidity levels.
    Rain during the harvest that followed the long hot summer of 1976 tarnished what could have been the vintage of the decade. Much to general surprise, the 1976 vintage although mature on release has maintained its maturity to date.
     
    Italian: A large crop was produced, but the 1976 wines lacked the ripeness and longevity of the preceding vintage. Although the wines will not improve further with age, they are still very drinkable - Barolo or Amarone being the most likely to offer a great experience.
     
    Portugal: Following the driest winter on record there was a total drought throughout the summer, until the end of August. This resulted in a very low production, however those ports that were produced are exceptionally concentrated and full-bodied. They lack a little freshness but this is understandable given the dry conditions. There are very few bottle aged ports available but the Colheita ports (barrel aged) from this year are excellent.
     
    Spain: A good year that produced good quantities of Rioja. Gran Reserva made the annual average of 7%.

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    99 products found.

    Nebbiolo D'Alba, 1976

    Terre del Barolo, Barolo, Piedmont

    Nebbiolo d'Alba renowned for is longevity, is considered the premiere varietal of northwestern Italy. It is used for the Famous Barolo wines and is believed to have been cultivated in the Langhe district before the fourteenth century.Nebbiolo-based wines, acid and astringent in youth, evolve with maturation into some of the most well-structured, longest living, and richly scented wines.
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    Price: £79.00
    Stock: 1 in Stock

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    Nebbiolo D'Alba, 1976

    Salvano Saverio

    The Nebbiolo has a lovely earthy bouquet. The nose has cherries, dark cherries, tar and slight dried rose notes. Complex and layered. Nice acidity. Medium tannins still present. Cherries on the palate too. Nice finish. Great food wine. Nebbiolo is a fickle grape famed as much for its pale appearance as for its tannic character and produces some of the most perfumed and richly flavored wines. Though generally only medium-bodied, the wines possess rose and anise scented aromatics and deep flavors of cherry, orange peel and subtle green herb tones.
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    Price: £69.00
    Stock: 4 in Stock

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    Nebbiolo D'Alba, 1976

    Ceste

    The Nebbiolo has a lovely earthy bouquet. The nose has cherries, dark cherries, tar and slight dried rose notes. Complex and layered. Nice acidity. Medium tannins still present. Cherries on the palate too. Nice finish. Great food wine. Nebbiolo is a fickle grape famed as much for its pale appearance as for its tannic character and produces some of the most perfumed and richly flavored wines. Though generally only medium-bodied, the wines possess rose and anise scented aromatics and deep flavors of cherry, orange peel and subtle green herb tones.
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    Price: £99.00
    Stock: 1 in Stock

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    Recioto, 1976

    F.lli Farina, Sweet Red Wine

    "Recioto," as in "Recioto della Valpolicella," refers to a dessert wine made from grapes that were dried on mats after picking. This process turns the grapes closer to raisins, concentrating the flavors. The wines are lovely and taste how you'd expect raisins-turned-wine to taste, rich and sweet.
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    Price: £119.00
    Stock: 3 in Stock

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    Refosco, 1976

    Casa Vinicola S. Osvaldo
    *** RARE DOUBLE MAGNUM OF 3,0 LITERS ***

    Refosco is a very old Italian family of dark-skinned grape varieties native to the northern Italian and neighbouring areas of Friuli, Gavi, Trentino,Istria, and Karst Plateau.It is considered autochthonous in these regions. The wines this grape yields can be quite powerful and tannic, with a deep violet color and a slight bitterness. On the palate, there are strong currant, wild berry and plum flavors. The wine can stand some aging.
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    Price: £329.00
    Stock: 1 in Stock

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    Refosco, 1976

    Tenuta S. Anna

    Refosco is a very old Italian family of dark-skinned grape varieties native to the northern Italian and neighbouring areas of Friuli, Gavi, Trentino,Istria, and Karst Plateau.It is considered autochthonous in these regions. The wines this grape yields can be quite powerful and tannic, with a deep violet color and a slight bitterness. On the palate, there are strong currant, wild berry and plum flavors. The wine can stand some aging.
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    Price: £69.00
    Stock: 2 in Stock

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    Refosco, 1976

    dal Peduncolo Rosso, Il Castello

    Refosco is a very old Italian family of dark-skinned grape varieties native to the northern Italian and neighbouring areas of Friuli, Gavi, Trentino,Istria, and Karst Plateau.It is considered autochthonous in these regions. The wines this grape yields can be quite powerful and tannic, with a deep violet color and a slight bitterness. On the palate, there are strong currant, wild berry and plum flavors. The wine can stand some aging.
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    Price: £79.00
    Stock: 3 in Stock

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    Remoissenet Pere and Fils, 1976

    Premier Cru Les Gravieres, Santenay, Burgundy

    This 1976 Santenay is an interesting wine from a challenging vintage. The nose is all strawberries and black earth. It has some Hoisin and coffee too. The palate is relatively light and lean, but flavours are fresh and delicious. It is lacy of texture. With air there are delightful rose petal notes that come to the fore and it puts on some mid-palate pud. It finishes with a minerally acidity.
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    Price: £119.00
    Stock: 6 in Stock

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    Rioja, 1976

    Emperatriz

    Wine from Rioja (and Ribera del Duero), aged for at least two years in oak and three years in the bottle, made primarily from the Tempranillo grape. Light and red-brown in colour, with intense vanilla aromas and substantial earthy flavour notes. Significant acidity and medium alcohol.
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    Price: £89.00
    Stock: 1 in Stock

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    Riviera del Garda Rosso, 1976

    Prandel - Riserva

    Very forward nose of leather and cherries, liquorice wild strawberries, ripe plums and pencil .The palate is very nice balance of sweet fruit and acidity.
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    Price: £69.00
    Stock: 3 in Stock

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    Rosso, 1976

    Roffo della Torre

    Very forward nose of leather and cherries, liquorice wild strawberries, ripe plums and pencil .The palate is very nice balance of sweet fruit and acidity.
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    Price: £59.00
    Stock: 3 in Stock

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    Spanna, 1976

    Umberto Fiore

    Spanna has often been cited by wine experts as one of Italy’s greatest ageing wines. Spanna’s longevity can be attributed, at least in part, to the addition of smaller amounts of less tannic, more acidic grape varieties. Tasting notes: The nose opens up beautifully after about an hour and the wine has gorgeous ripe and sweet fruit, nice acidity, and perfectly softened tannins.
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    Price: £99.00
    Stock: 5 in Stock

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    Spanna, 1976

    Santachiara - Antoniolo

    Spanna has often been cited by wine experts as one of Italy’s greatest ageing wines. Spanna’s longevity can be attributed, at least in part, to the addition of smaller amounts of less tannic, more acidic grape varieties. Tasting notes: The nose opens up beautifully after about an hour and the wine has gorgeous ripe and sweet fruit, nice acidity, and perfectly softened tannins.
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    Price: £89.00
    Stock: 1 in Stock

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    St Magdalena, 1976

    Klosterkellerei

    St. Magdalena is an area covering the lower, south-facing slopes above Bozen-Bolzano. Bolzano is a city in the South Tyrol province of north Italy. The “Kienaster” vineyard where this particular wine comes from is situated near the village of St. Pauls. It is made from the Vernatsch-Schiava grape and a very small proportion of Lagrein. The extremely favourable climatic conditions combined with very steep vineyards result in a dark ruby wine, finely scented, soft and velvety on the palate.
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    Price: £69.00
    Stock: 1 in Stock

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    Tazzelenghe, 1976

    Ronchi di Butrio - Florio Maseri

    Tazzelenghe is a red Italian wine grape variety from the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of northeast Italy. The grape is predominantly found in the Colli Orientali del Friuli Denominazione di origine controllata. The grape's name means "Tongue stinging" or "Tongue cutting"
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    Price: £69.00
    Stock: 1 in Stock

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    Valtellina, 1976

    Perlavilla - Tona

    Valtellina is one of Italy’s most dramatic wine regions, located in Lombardy, the vineyards are located on steep mountains. The principal grape variety is Chiavennasca (the local name for Piedmont’s Nebbiolo and an Italian grape varietal that has been cultivated since medieval times here). The DOCG wines are generally comprised of at least 90% Chiavennasca and then blended with other quality local grapes like Brugnola, Rossola, Pignola. Then there is a DOC Valtellina Rosso (also called Rosso di Valtellina DOC) which requires at least 80% of the blend be Chiavennasca and does not have minimum ageing requirements.
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    Price: £59.00
    Stock: 2 in Stock

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    Kopke, 1976

    Colheita Port in Gift Box
    Decanter (DWWA) Platinum Award - 2025

    The 1976 Kopke Colheita Port is a benchmark single-harvest tawny from Portugal’s oldest Port house, showcasing decades of gentle cask ageing and graceful complexity. Already in prime drinking form, it delivers depth, finesse and remarkable length. Enjoy now and over the coming years.

    Tasting Notes:
    Mahogany-amber with a lifted bouquet of orange zest, dried fig and date, walnut and almond brittle, brûléed sugar and a hint of polished wood and cinnamon. The palate is silk-textured and beautifully poised: caramel, marmalade and toffee unfold in layers, balanced by bright, citrus-lined acidity that keeps the sweetness in check.
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    Price: £149.00
    Stock: Out of Stock

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    Blandys, 1976

    Bual Vintage Madeira
    150cl Magnum Bottle In Individual Box
    96 Points - Wine Spectator
    PLEASE ALLOW 10 DAYS FOR DELIVERY

    Blandys 1976 Bual Vintage Madeira is only available in extremely limited quantities, a perfect birthday gift for anyone born in 1976.

    Tasting Notes:
    Dark amber with golden reflections. The nose has a very complex and characteristic bouquet. Lush with notes of toasted wood, dried fruit, vanilla-like sweet spices, saffron, ripe fruit chutney, dried leaves, and tea. The palate is very rich, smooth, and balanced, medium sweet, with a very long finish leaving notes of chutney and resinous woods such as cedar.

    Serving Suggestions:
    Serve slightly chilled (14–16°C) to enhance its rich, mellow character.
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    Price: £655.00
    Stock: Out of Stock

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    Chateau Belgrave, 1976

    Haut-Medoc, 5th Growth Classification

    1976 Château Belgrave – A Classic Bordeaux from a Warm Vintage
    The 1976 Château Belgrave comes from a significant vintage in Bordeaux, marked by an exceptionally hot and dry summer that led to an early harvest. As a fifth-growth estate in the Haut-Médoc, Château Belgrave is known for producing elegant and structured wines, blending Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from its well-draining gravel soils. This vintage initially showcased ripe fruit and soft tannins, but with time, it has evolved into a more delicate and mature expression of Bordeaux.

    After nearly 50 years, the 1976 vintage has likely developed complex tertiary aromas of dried fruit, leather, tobacco, cedar, and earthy undertones.
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    Price: £79.95
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    Chateau Clos L'Eglise, 1976

    Pomerol

    The 1976 Clos de l'Église is a wine from the Pomerol appellation in Bordeaux, France. Pomerol is renowned for its Merlot-driven wines that exhibit richness, depth, and finesse. The 1976 vintage, while not among the top Bordeaux vintages, offered ripe and approachable wines due to a very warm and dry growing season, leading to earlier-maturing wines with softer structures.

    Wine Overview
    Clos de l'Église is a respected estate in Pomerol, producing small quantities of wines that highlight the appellation’s signature elegance. The 1976 vintage is likely composed of:

    Merlot (dominant): Providing lush, ripe fruit flavors and softness.
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    Price: £129.00
    Stock: Out of Stock

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    Chateau la Tour de By, 1976

    New

    Medoc, Cru Bourgeois- TC

    Château Tour de By is a respected Médoc estate producing classic claret with Cabernet-led structure. The 1976 Bordeaux vintage was marked by extreme summer heat, giving ripe fruit but shorter-lived wines compared to great years.

    Garnet with a brick rim. Aromas of dried cassis, cedar, leather, and earthy notes. Palate is light, soft, and fully resolved, with gentle spice and a fading but elegant finish. More for appreciation of its age than power.
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    Price: £69.95
    Stock: Out of Stock

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    Chateauneuf du Pape, 1976

    Domaine du Grand Tunel - E. Jeune

    An outstanding wine still with a deep red colour. This has really strong bouquet with lovely packing in it; there is charm in the soft red fruits, but power and depth in behind, via some tobacco and rum: all comes in a silken air. This is rich on the palate, backed by good structure and tannin to keep it in shape. Very good length.
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    Price: £149.00
    Stock: Out of Stock

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    Hugel, 1976

    Vendange Tardive Riesling, Alsace
    Off Dry White Wine

    This 1976 wine was made from overripe grapes that were picked well after the classic vintage and in the greatest years only. The action of noble rot (botrytis cinerea) gave them an almost unlimited ability to age. They are part of the elite of the greatest wines in France.

    Produced from over-ripened grapes in a selection of the oldest plots of the Hugel estate in the heart of the grand cru Schoenenbourg in Alsace. This fantastic historical terroir has been almost exclusively devoted to Riesling for centuries.

    Tasting Notes Deep golden. Musty, mushroomy first impression, but my god, this wine was the definition of resilience-it just kept coming and coming for the entire 2 hours that we savored it.
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    Price: £219.00
    Stock: Out of Stock

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    Taylor Fladgate, 1976

    Taylors Vargellas Single Quinta Vintage Port

    The impressive 1976 Vargellas is a 50% Opague mature mahogany colour as befits this hot vintage. lots of spice on the nose which is full of cedar wood and plums. on the palate the wine is very attractive. Full bodied, full flavoured with masses of dried fruit. Very tasty. Big aftertaste and a long, full finish. Very, very impressive wine.


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    Price: £245.00
    Stock: Out of Stock

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