Comet vintages refer to historically significant wine harvests that occurred in years featuring bright comets. The most famous example is the 1811 harvest, which European winemakers associated with the appearance of the Great Comet of 1811. These wines are generally considered to have exceptional quality, though modern climateology attributes this to favorable weather conditions rather than the celestial event.
History
The term "comet wine" entered European winemaking vocabulary in the early 19th century. It was not a specific type of wine but a description of a vintage linked to a notable comet. The Oxford English Dictionary records the first uses of "comet wine" in 1817 and "comet vintage" in 1819. In German-speaking regions, the year 1811 is specifically called "Kometenjahrgang" or "Kometenwein". The connection between comets and wine quality was rooted in the belief that comets influenced atmospheric conditions, a view held by both the public and some scientists of the time.
Types and styles
The concept applies to various wine regions. While the 1811 harvest is the most famous, the term was also used for other years with notable comets, such as 1826, 1839, 1845, 1852, 1858, 1861, and 1874. Specific regional expressions included "comet claret" for Bordeaux wines and "comet hock" for Rhenish wines. The expression eventually became a cultural shorthand for an exceptionally good vintage, regardless of whether a comet was visible.
How it is served
Comet vintages are served as still wines, such as claret, or as sparkling wines like champagne. The 1811 harvest is particularly associated with the development of modern champagne production. Veuve Clicquot produced a champagne called "Cuvée de la Comète" during this period. This vintage played a key role in the adoption of vintage-dated bottles and the refinement of the remuage process, which clears sediment from sparkling wine.
Adapted from the Russian Wikipedia article Вино кометы, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.