‘Aged Like Fine Wine’: Definition, Meaning, and Examples

By Shanea Patterson, updated on March 22, 2023

Have you heard someone say that they have ‘aged like fine wine’? Are you wondering what this means? In this article, we’ll take a look at the definition and origin of the phrase and provide some examples of how to use it in a sentence correctly.

In short:

  • ‘Aged like fine wine’ means someone or something that seems to get better over time.

Essentially, it’s a positive observation about someone’s appearance or intelligence. It means you think they look great for their age or just in general.

What Does ‘Aged Like Fine Wine’ Mean?

‘Aged like fine wine’ means that someone or something gets better with time. It’s a way to tell someone you think they look good for their age or that they’ve gotten smarter over time.

It’s a nice way to compliment someone you’ve known for a while but haven’t seen in a long time.

Sometimes, however, people use this phrase just to be polite and don’t actually mean it. There are pleasantries in the English language that people often use but don’t really mean.

‘Aged like fine wine’ is a common idiom in the English language that people have been using for decades.

Where Does ‘Aged Like Fine Wine’ Come From?

Some sources believe that the phrase ‘aged like fine wine’ comes from the Bible in the Book of Luke, in which it states that “old wine” is better than “new wine.”

The aging represents the improved quality of the wine.

The opposite of the phrase is ‘aged like milk,’ which we know spoils pretty quickly. So, obviously, this phrase would have the opposite sentiment as ‘aged like fine wine.’

Examples of ‘Aged Like Fine Wine’ in Sentences 

How would you use ‘aged like fine wine’ in a sentence?

Let’s look at some examples:

  • I haven’t seen Angelina in ages. She has aged like fine wine, in my opinion. I can’t believe how much better she looks than me!
  • I cannot believe that Harry still looks so sexy. I think I’m going to give him a call and see if he wants to go out to dinner this weekend.
  • I haven’t seen you since you left the organization we both worked for. You’ve really aged like fine wine, Kelly. Really, you look great.
  • My sorority sister Selena hasn’t aged like fine wine the way we all thought she would. Instead, she’s aged like milk. It’s actually kind of sad.
  • I’m so grateful that I’ve aged like fine wine, unlike most of the women in my family. They all look so worn out from weathering the ups and downs of life.
  • Everyone says that most celebrities age like fine wine, but I think a lot of them get plastic surgery to keep themselves looking young. I would never do that to my body.
  • I know my niece will age like fine wine because she keeps her body in tip-top shape. She’s always working out, taking vitamin supplements, and drinking alkaline water.
  • Our family tends to age like fine wine. I’m not sure if we just have good genes or if most of us just continually take really good care of ourselves.

Other Ways to Say ‘Aged Like Fine Wine’

What other words and phrases convey the same meaning as ‘aged like fine wine’?

Here are some examples:

  • Get better with time
  • Get better with age
  • Look good for one’s age
  • Age with dignity
  • Grow old gracefully
  • Age gracefully
  • Look young for one’s age
  • Keep in shape
  • Live a healthy lifestyle
  • Take care of oneself
  • Age well
  • Improve with time
  • Attractive
  • Easy on the eyes
  • Fine-looking
  • Handsome
  • Gorgeous
  • Youthful
  • Pleasing to look at
  • Sexy
  • Stunning
  • Pretty
  • Ravishing

Concluding Thoughts on ‘Aged Like Fine Wine’

To recap, we learned the following:

  • ‘Aged like fine wine’ is a common American phrase that means that someone seemingly gets better over time in appearance or intelligence.

Essentially, it’s a positive observation about someone’s appearance or intelligence. It generally means you think someone looks great for their age or just in general.

If you ever get stuck on usage or meaning, you can always pop back over to review what you learned. We’ve got a whole library of content on other Idioms you might see as you’re learning this complex language. Feel free to check it out anytime.

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Written By:
Shanea Patterson
Shanea Patterson is a writer based in New York and loves writing for brands big and small. She has a master's degree in professional writing from New York University and a bachelor's degree in English from Mercy College.

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