South Australia Vintage Chart: 1990 to 2024
2024
Strong winds throughout late November and much of December heavily affected flowering - resulting in a painfully small crop. A cooler than average growing season and a dry fall has resulted in what looks to be good quality - but it is too early to tell. See Brian Croser's report here.
2023
An incredibly challenging vintage with far too much precipitation and very high fungal pressure. The vintage was cool, long, late, and light. Wines have modest alcohol levels and can be lean. See Max Allen's detailed report here.
2022
While the eastern seaboard saw unprecedented downpours and flooding, South Australia fared relatively well. The largest issue was hail and rain in October and February which cut yields. A cooler than average growing season and lengthy fall provided ideal conditions for a later than usual harvest. Resulting wines have moderate alcohol levels, fresh acidity, and good fruit concentration. See Max Allen's detailed report.
2021
One of the best vintages this century. A growing season with around average precipitation and temperatures resulted in fresh, concentrated, and ageworthy wines. Better yet, it was a vintage of both quality and quantity - sorely needed after last year. See Brian Croser's detailed report.
2020
Late September frosts and windy conditions during flowering cut yields significantly. Heat spikes in December exacerbated already dry conditions and on 20 December bush fires broke out in the north of the Adelaide Hills region - directly affecting 20% of vineyard acreage. On 3 January, just as the Adelaide Hills fires were contained, fires erupted on Kangaroo Island. Between a rough start to the season, fires, and associated smoke damage, the vintage is the smallest in over a decade; but what was made is often good quality. Of the 160 wines our team has tasted from South Australia, none have shown smoke taint. See Brian Croser's detailed report.
2019
Yet again, South Australia basked in the sun in 2019, drying out the undergrowth prior to worse bushfires than ever. Combined with spring frosts, yields were drastically reduced as a result. What remains is of pretty good quality, but far from the best. See also this more detailed South Australia vintage report.
2018
Very promising quality with the most bullish commentators declaring 2018 great in every region and for every variety. The more circumspect view is that early frosts reduced yields, but good, consistent weather throughout the second half of the growing season did indeed result in great potential.
2017
The grape harvest started later than in 2016, thanks to a relatively cool and wet start to the year, which brought disease pressure. There were none of the drought problems of recent years, and the crop was plentiful across all of Australia. Dry weather for most the harvest period ensured that quality was generally high too.
2016
Another very early vintage, with most varieties and regions finished with harvest by mid-February. That has allowed for lower alcohols in regions such as Coonawarra, but the warm summer allowed for full flavour ripeness. It was a compressed and difficult vintage to produce, but the results should be promising. For a more detailed report, read Max Allen’s article.
2015
Bush fires in the Adelaide Hills area may result in some smoke-tainted wines. Coonawarra had a warm spring but a cooler summer allowing for slow development and notably high tannin in the Cabernet Sauvignon. Barossa Shiraz enjoyed an excellent vintage while Clare Valley growers are enthusiastic about the quality of their Riesling.
2014
Extreme weather conditions are increasingly normal for Australia, and 2014 saw everything from frost to high winds to heatwaves. Yields were lower than usual and while nobody is claiming it is a great vintage, quality is generally reliable across varieties.
2013
The hottest summer ever for South Eastern Australia and yields were well down but the vine proved itself relatively resistant to the record temperatures with many varieties ripening in an unusually short period.
2012
Lower-than-average yields in Australia, as across much of Europe. This was blamed on high winds, drought and low fruitfulness resulting from the poor 2011 vintage. Quality, however, was much better than in the exceptionally damp 2011, with South Australia avoiding some of the weather extremes experienced by other states. Strong varietal typicality is a commonly cited feature of the 2012 crop.
2011
Wet across most of Australia, and 'one of the toughest in 25 years' according to Peter Gago of Penfolds, with lots of botrytis and mildew infections. Whites are generally thought better, with some excellent Clare Valley Riesling where fruit selection was stringent.
2010
This was the year that the rain finally came, breaking a long drought. This brought some problems later in the season, with excess rainfall encouraging some mildew, but generally the impression is a positive one across the state.
2009
A smaller vintage with another blistering heatwave to contend with. Opposite to 2008, the whites suffered most in 2009.
2008
An extremely hot year wreaked havoc with reds, but the earlier picked whites look to be good quality, and the Barossa’s oldest vines weathered the heat as they always have done.
2007
Very early, very small harvest, shrunk by the killer combination of frost and drought. Reds tend to be concentrated. Clare Rieslings are likely to shine. For a full, very highly detailed, report on 2007, click here.
2006
Rain, very welcome in some respects, interrupted harvest at the end of the fourth successive drought-affected growing season. Limestone Coast Cabernets look promising.
2005
Large crop of super-ripe wines in which both reds and whites were very successful.
2004
Record crop even though the total volume was trimmed by extreme heat just before harvest. Increasingly highly regarded reds.
2003
Eerily similar to many European 2003s, these are potent, fast-maturing reds shaped by a drought season with, often, a hole in the middle and very dry tannins on the finish.
2002
Poor weather at flowering reduced yields considerably and was followed by an unusually cool summer and a late harvest leading to some high-quality wines. Inland irrigated regions benefited most obviously from this prolonged growing season.
2001
A vintage that rewarded the quality-conscious. A usefully wet start to the growing season was followed by prolonged very hot, dry weather, broken by rain just before harvest in March. Some grapes suffered sunburn but lower-yielding vineyards produced true quality.
2000
Very challenging vintage conditions which included poor flowering, hail, exceptional heat in summer and rain during harvest. There were problems with colour stability. Small crop.
1999
The record crop was more the result of increased plantings than any natural phenomenon. Several years of drought conditions continued until summer, which was plagued by some storms which compromised vintage health. A cooler year than 1998.
1998
Was then a record crop from an early, frantic vintages despite drought conditions. Some fine reds.
1997
Vintage saved by a hot April with some fine Shiraz made, eventually, which should have a long life.
1996
A big vintage at last, with sugars boosted by a late burst of heat.
1995
Inconveniently small crop but some good Shiraz and Rieslings, especially in Clare, where quantities were better than elsewhere
1994
Exceptionally dry but not too hot: the resulting wines are deep and structured, especially from the Barossa Valley.
1993
Ripening was slowed by an unusually cool and wet spell. A challenging year with the whites especially more variable than usual.
1992
Cool temperatures at harvest ensured balanced wines, exceptional from Clare Valley.
1991
Dry weather restricted yields, but the quality was generally fine for all varieties.
1990
Ideal weather: enough water and moderate temperatures. An excellent year in all regions.