Are vintage sardines really the best canned sardines?
Vintage sardines are selected for their quality! Not all sardines can end up as vintage sardines, so what is the true definition of a vintage sardine?
To receive the prestigious Vintage Sardine label , sardines must guarantee a certain fat content.
This allows them to age in good conditions and improve over time (a dream!).
The criteria vary depending on the canning manufacturer, but the target fat content is usually above 10%.
Quite logically, this means that these sardines should be caught as late in the season as possible to give them time to grow quietly.
In France, particularly in Brittany, sardines for vintage sardines are usually caught from the end of August until the end of the fishing season in October/November.
Although vintage sardines can be found in many countries (especially Portugal and Spain), it's a concept that's more widespread in France. Vintage sardines are stored in beautiful cans!
Canners compete to create the most beautiful cans for their vintage sardines. They work closely with painters and artists to achieve this. This makes each vintage completely unique: from the contents (the sardines!) to the packaging (the can).
Due to the quality of the selected sardines, these cans are produced in limited series, which increases the appeal for collectors.
For example, for " La Perle des Dieux ", the famous cannery from Saint Gilles Croix de Vie, the artist Delphine Cossais from Nantes was chosen and offers a new work of art every year to tell a story on the cannery's pretty cans.
Each year, a new artist is selected for the " Compagnie Bretonne ," allowing for the discovery of a broader spectrum of Breton artists. For the 2019 collection, for example, the painter Albert Quentel from Pont L'Abbé took to the arts. His painting depicts the waves and the sea in St. Pierre, at the foot of the Eckmühl lighthouse... just a few kilometers from the cannery.
The same applies to " La Pointe de Penmarc'h ," a cannery in Guilvinec, where art is featured on the vintage sardine cans every year. The 2020 vintage is the result of a collaboration with the Breton painter and sculptor Paul Moal, born in Douarnenez in 1948.
For 50 years, " Les Mouettes d'Arvor " from Concarneau has been releasing several specially designed cans of aged sardines every year, which are highly prized by collectors. The packaging of these sardines is unique each year and captures the essence of each vintage, making them sought-after collector's items. Les Mouettes d'Arvor has an excellent reputation for the quality of its sardines and the creativity of its packaging.
Another example is " La Quiberonnaise ": to celebrate the canning factory's 100th anniversary, the company invited three renowned comic artists to create a triptych on the world of sardines. Margerin (a regular who has already created several illustrations for La Quiberonnaise canned goods), Gilbert Shelton, and Denis Lelièvre (aka Pic) took out their brushes to illustrate three scenes of life, scented with iodine.
Aren't all sardines vintage sardines?
Yes, there's still a bit of a debate. One could argue that all sardines are (somewhat) vintage: you just have to look at the can from all angles, and you'll always find a packing date (and if not, you have every right to be concerned!). This is how these cans are aged.
What makes the difference between two cans packed in 2010, for example, is the selection of sardines contained within, rather than the decision to affix the "vintage sardines" label.
" La Belle Iloise " is a good example: They don't currently offer vintage sardines in their catalog, but they carefully select the fish in each of their cans. Therefore, the "classic" Saint Georges can be considered a vintage sardine.
Vintage sardines can be stored for several years
A frequently asked question concerns the storage of vintage sardines: "How long can they be kept?" It's true that they are canned, but that doesn't tell you how long we can store them and enjoy them at their maximum flavor potential.
There are differing opinions on the ideal storage period, but at Maître Philippe & Filles, we like to say that their best years are between 5 and 10 years after the vintage date. Between us, we refer to this as syllable age (a reference to the color of those "silver arrows") and gold age (a reference to the color the oil takes on after a large number of years of storage).
Over time, the vintage sardines will become saturated with oil and become more saturated. Their flavor will improve over time, and the central bone (which sometimes repels some people, despite their natural calcium content) will eventually "melt" and dissolve, eventually disappearing completely.
Ultimately, these are exceptional products that should be saved for special occasions. Some restaurants also add them to their menus and serve them as an aperitif or tapas.
In any case, we recommend enjoying them in the simplest way possible, such as with good bread and butter and a glass of dry white wine. Using them in a dish would be a waste, in our opinion (and our taste buds!).
In general, canned sardines are a weapon against waste, as they can be enjoyed long after production without needing to be stored in a cool place (thankfully!). This is even more true for vintage sardines, which, thanks to their fat content, can be stored even longer than their non-vintage counterparts.
To put together a collection of vintage sardines, there are three aspects to consider:
- Choose the best cans, made by manufacturers who have meticulously selected and prepared the products (sardines and oil). We offer a selection of these below on this page.
- Turn the cans regularly to help distribute the oil evenly throughout the can and the fish flesh. We recommend doing this every 4 to 8 months.
- Resist! The temptation to open those beautiful, delicious cans is sometimes the hardest thing to overcome. Another trick is to buy several cans of the same vintage to compare their evolution from year to year, and also to keep one in stock in case you give in one day (it happens to all of us...).
Our selection of the best vintage sardines
When it comes to canned sardines, there's something for every budget, even vintage sardines. But it remains an affordable pleasure: at Maître Philippe & Filles, we offer you the largest selection in Germany. Discover our selection of vintage sardines directly in our online shop .
Now you know everything: all that's left is to enjoy it... in a few years! Or right now.
Also read this blog post about vintage sardines: The Journey of the Oil Sardines – or Waiting for Pierrot
