South Africa Vintage Chart: 2000 to 2024
2024
South Africa's 2024 vintage saw bud break in September 2023 - right before the once-in-200-year floods in the Western Cape. Luckily, spring and summer proved to be dry, warm, and windy, keeping fungal pressure low but speeding along ripening. You can read Malu Lambert's report here.
2023
A warm dry winter prompted early bud break. Rains hit in December leading to high fungal pressure which continued throughout the wet and cool summer. Rains hit again in March prolonging the harvest into April. Resulting wines have lower alcohols than usual and higher acidities. Whites and sparkling, often picked before the harvest rains, are very good. Reds are far more variable. See Malu Lambert's report here.
2022
The Cape enjoyed its wettest and coldest winter in recent memory. These conditions maintained for the majority of summer, triggering vigorous growth. In spite of this, yields were slightly lower than expected, but was still larger than the five-year average. A sudden and intense heat spike ramped things up preceding harvest, but fall was cool and moderate, with Cabernet Sauvignon in particular faring well.
2021
Moderate weather themed the season, and with it slower ripening and consequently longer hang times, concentrating both flavour and colour. The cool conditions allowed producers to cherry-pick the moment to bring in fruit, resulting in wines with ageworthy structures. Chenin again gets a nod, as do Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, while Syrah is billed as the quiet hero of this ‘fairy-tale’ vintage.
2020
2020 improved on modest yields recorded in 2019, the second vintage post-drought (2015–2018). Moderate to warm growing conditions continued into late autumn, which favoured white varieties (in particular, Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay), elevating acidities. Generally, red varieties were open, red-fruited and expressive of the season, with a fruit-forward exuberance.
2019
Across the Cape – as indeed across much of the southern hemisphere – drought suppressed harvest volumes in 2019. However, there is optimism regarding Chenin Blanc in particular, with high acidity appearing to be a feature of the vintage.
2018
Drought was the predominant factor in South Africa in 2018. Yields were 15% lower than 2017, but the hot conditions have also concentrated flavours. Brave faces claim that quality is high, thanks to slightly cooler conditions at harvest and low disease pressure, but it certainly wasn’t an easy vintage.
2017
Very good quality potential across the Western Cape, thanks to dry conditions throughout harvest and very little disease pressure. Many regions experienced drought conditions, resulting in a smaller-than-usual crop, but offering greater concentration of both colour and flavour as a result.
2016
The smallest crop in half a decade has resulted in concentrated, ripe wines. The hot conditions demanded an early harvest, which means alcohol levels are generally lower than average. Sunburn was a problem in some regions, but there was at least minimal threat of rot thanks to very dry weather throughout the season.
2015
Record early harvest but viewed as good quality by most observers, thanks to clement weather throughout the year. Yields are slightly lower than in 2014.
2014
A challenging vintage beset by rain. Coastal regions fared better than most, but overall the expectations for quality are not high.
2013
A wet winter and warm summer. Humidity threatened rot during the harvest, but producers with the strongest nerve successfully waited for dryer conditions. Reds are particularly promising.
2012
Below average yields, but good quality fruit thanks to a dry, easy harvest period.
2011
Drought, resulting in reduced yields and particular concentration in reds. Not an auspicious vintage.
2010
Cool and dry in spring until a very wet November. December was dry again, and warm too, allowing for good late ripening. Mildew was a problem in many areas, so quality is variable.
2009
Universal acclaim across all varieties.
2008
Lighter than average wines, thanks to an especially cool growing season. Not an easy vintage, but the slow ripening process led to elegant examples from the best producers.
2007
Ripe and rich, favouring Rhône varieties in particular. For a more detailed breakdown of 2007 in South Africa, click here.
2006
Started coolly, meaning small berries with thick skins that led to great concentration. A strong vintage.
2005
Undistinguished, with reds slightly more favoured than whites.
2004
Cooler conditions than the norm, making for more restrained styles in both reds and whites.
2003
Temperatures several degrees below the average, with the best results coming from the earlier ripening varieties.
2002
Rain in abundance, leading to plentiful rot. Not a good vintage.
2001
Continued the run of hot vintages, and produced a very small harvest of concentrated reds. Tannins were generally softer than in 2000.
2000
The third hot year in a row. Whites were unimpressive, but reds were powerful and concentrated, with high tannic structure.