1996 Wine and Port Vintage
Vintage Summary and Recommendations: Welcome to Vintage Wine and Port’s 1996 wine page. Read on for our summary of the vintage, our top recommendations and region reports, or scroll down to explore all available wines. The 1996 vintage was an excellent year across much of Europe, particularly in France. Bordeaux produced outstanding wines for both reds and whites, including Sauternes, while Piedmont in Italy delivered some exceptional Barolos. Now fully mature, the best wines from this vintage offer depth, balance and developed character, with many drinking beautifully today.
In key regions such as Portugal and Bordeaux, well-made wines from 1996 provide excellent options for immediate enjoyment. In Portugal, aged Tawny and Single Harvest (Colheita) Ports from this vintage are now showing particularly well, offering a reliable and rewarding choice for a 30th anniversary or birthday gift.
Our Recommended Wines from 1996
Scroll down to explore our full selection. If you would like personal advice, please call us on 01425 837177 or contact us.
Top Recommendation: Quinta de la Rosa, 1996 A mature Single Quinta Vintage Port that combines the lush dark-fruit character of youth with the complexity gained from nearly three decades of bottle age. Drinking beautifully now, and an excellent match for Stilton, other blue cheeses, dark chocolate desserts, or simply enjoyed on its own after dinner.
Classic Vintage Port Choice: Burmester 1996 Vintage Port A classic expression of the 1996 vintage, offering structure, depth and traditional character. Now drinking well, while still capable of further ageing.
Best Value: Rivesaltes Riveyac VDN A wonderfully mature fortified wine offering outstanding value, with rich flavours of dried fruits, caramel and spice developed through long ageing.
Fine & Rare Choice: Ryst Dupeyron Armagnac, 1996 The 1996 Ryst-Dupeyron is an Armagnac, a type of brandy from the Gascony region in southwest France. Armagnac is one of the oldest distilled spirits in France, with a rich history dating back to the 14th century.
This Year in History: Fun Fact: The Hubble Space Telescope revealed images of Pluto’s surface for the first time.
Eurovision Winner: Ireland with the song "The Voice" by Eimar Quinn
Top Grossing Movie: Independence Day
France: 1996 was an exceptional vintage in France, with outstanding wines from Bordeaux and Sauternes now fully mature and drinking beautifully.
Read full France vintage report
The 1996 vintage produced exceptional wines across much of France and quickly gained a reputation for quality, with many of the top wines reaching full maturity over a decade ago while still retaining the ability to age further. In Bordeaux, it was a standout year for both red and white wines, including Sauternes. The finest red wines, particularly from the Left Bank (Pauillac, Saint-Julien and Margaux), are structured, concentrated and classically styled, with firm tannins that have now softened into elegant, complex wines showing notes of cedar, cassis and spice.
Sauternes also enjoyed an excellent vintage, producing rich, balanced wines with both sweetness and freshness, offering exceptional longevity. In Champagne, a warm, dry summer with long periods of sunshine led to a high-quality harvest of slightly above-average size. The resulting wines are noted for their balance, precision and ageing potential, with many now drinking well while still capable of further development.
Italian: 1996 was an outstanding vintage for Italian wines, particularly in Piedmont, where the best Barolos and Barbarescos are now fully mature and drinking beautifully.
Read full Italian vintage report
A cooler, unsettled summer gave way to warm, dry conditions from mid-September through to mid-October, allowing the late-ripening Nebbiolo grape to achieve an excellent balance of fruit and structure. The best wines are powerful yet refined, with depth, complexity and the potential for long ageing, offering a superb drinking experience today if well stored. In Tuscany, similarly cooler conditions led to a long, even ripening period, producing wines that are richly aromatic, deeply coloured and full of vibrant fruit character.
Portugal: 1996 was a good year in Portugal, producing approachable and fruit-driven Ports that are now fully mature and drinking well, making them an excellent choice for a 30th anniversary gift.
Read full Portugal vintage report
Although 1996 was one of the wettest years on record in the Douro, the region still produced a large and abundant crop. The year was not declared as a Vintage, however a number of good Ports were made, typically showing a fruit-forward and accessible style. Aged Tawny and Single Harvest (Colheita) Ports from this vintage are now showing particularly well, offering a smooth, balanced and reliable option for drinking now.
27 products found.
Château Pavie-Decesse, 1996
Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classe
The 1996 vintage in Bordeaux is widely regarded as a classic, particularly on the Left Bank, though the best Right Bank estates also produced wines of structure, balance and ageing potential. A warm growing season followed by favourable harvest conditions allowed for steady ripening, resulting in wines that have developed elegant, savoury complexity over time.
Château Pavie-Decesse 1996 is a mature and characterful expression of this Saint-Émilion estate. With extended bottle age, the wine now displays a complex bouquet of dried plum, black cherry and fig, layered with notes of leather, tobacco, cedar and forest floor. …
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Price: £69.95
Stock: Out of Stock
Ferreira
Ferreira `Dona Antónia` 30-Year-Old Tawny Port
Decanter Presented In Gift Box
***95 Points-GOLD- Decanter World Wine Awards***
***95 Points- GOLD MEDAL- IWC 2024***
The Dona Antonia 30-Year-Old Tawny Port by Ferreira is a luxurious and complex wine, showcasing the mastery of the tawny port-making craft.
Tasting Notes
This luxurious and complex wine shows rich and inviting aromas with a blend of dried fruit, nutty aromas, and wood notes. On the palate, it has a velvety texture and a symphony of flavors, with layers of caramelized sugar, toffee, honeyed sweetness, and dark chocolate.The finish is long and lingering, with the wine's myriad flavors unfolding gradually and leaving a lasting impression. Subtle echoes of dried fruit, nuts, and spices linger on the palate, inviting contemplation and reflection. …
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Price: £99.00
Stock: Out of Stock