Originally Posted by Greenheron
Ranting: 'vintage' is a b.s. word or euphemism for old stuff. I'd like to send a raspberry to the person who started using it. Really, I think it began legitimately as a date label, e.g. 'vintage 1930 charm quilt' or 'lovely 1920's vintage party dress.' Dropping the date destroyed the meaning. (Vintage, of course, borrowed from wine labels, "Red Plonk, Vintage 2009".) Now I feel better, too.
Right you are! Vintage really refers to the date your wine was bottled. It is a pretty sounding word, however, and I'm sure that's one reason people started using it instead of saying "old stuff, still good, they don't make 'em like this anymore."