RE VINTAGE WINE from the American Wine Institute's site:
BY LAW:
"a) General. Vintage wine is wine labeled with the year of harvest of the grapes and made in accordance with the standards prescribed in classes 1, 2, or 3 of ? 4.21. At least 95 percent of the wine must have been derived from grapes harvested in the labeled calendar year, and the wine must be labeled with an appellation of origin other than a country (which does not qualify for vintage labeling). The appellation shall be shown in direct conjunction with the designation required by ? 4.32(a)(2), in lettering substantially as conspicuous as that designation. In no event may the quantity of wine removed from the producing winery, under labels bearing a vintage date, exceed the volume of vintage wine produced in that winery during the year indicated by the vintage date."
Being of a culinary bent I know most people refer to Vintage Wines as 10 years or older. American Classic Vintage Cars are defined as 25 years or older. I tend to agree with George Gruhn's definition. To me the majority of great Vintage Gutiars stopped coming out in the late 60's, with only rare exceptions. Flatops in the 20's, 30's and early 40's. Archtops were at their peak in pre-WWII, hollowbodies in the 50's and early 60's and solid bodies in the 50's and 60's.
BigMike