WORLD WINE-VINTAGES TABLES
- 16-JUL-1999 - (vers. 4.1)
by Anthony J. Hawkins
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These vintage tables are designed only as a rough guide to the overall condition
of the grape *harvest* of the specified region in any given year. Attempting
a long term evaluation during the earliest two years of a fermented vintage is
usually considered a fruitless exercise due to the number of variables involved.
However, because vineyards producing grapes suitable for premium table wines generally
occupy a small geographic area it is often possible to generalize about the harvest
outcome in a reasonably accurate manner; frequent updates being necessary for
keeping track.
Note that these generalized table figures are NOT cast in cement. The intent
is merely to "indicate" the vintage years that have most likely allowed creation
of well-balanced wines, in a particular region, with minimal human "adjustment"
intervention.
The following tables cater to the reader interested in "drinking" wines,
not investment-grade "fine wines". For the benefit of the latter group I have
included links to specialist wine purveyers or information sites at the bottom
of the relevant table. In the final analysis it is up to the individual to
make his or her own choice depending on personal perceptions. Vintages ranked
as average (or below) indicate that the consumer should be "trying before buying"
not least because the ranking can still encompass excellent individual wines benefiting
from special climatic or winemaking circumstances.
Modern wine science, where practiced, ensures that *every* years growth will
produce a drinkable wine. "Off" years may require "chaptalization", (ie: addition
of some sugar to bring the wine to optimum alcohol content), or perhaps the addition
of crystallized tartaric acid recovered from previous vintage wine-barrels to
increase desirable acid content (etc).
These methods are ways of enhancing certain deficient natural elements by the
addition of those same elements in isolated form although it should be pointed
out that these techniques are being declared illegal for use in wines designated
as "quality wines", and so only permissable in the lower grade designation of
"table wines", in many of the countries associated or aligned with the European
Union rules governing denominated "quality wine" regions.
Historically - (aprox pre-1950's) - winemakers were at the mercy of Nature.
Unaware of present-day techniques it was natural that vintages were tracked by
empirical methods in order to give some guidance about probable condition over
the short term. The wheel seems to have come full-circle in that many consumers
prefer a 100% natural wine with minimal or no additives....which necessarily requires
a knowledge of the best vintage years.
Readers interested in historical trivia can access Peter Jordan's "Chronicle"
of German vintage information, dating back to late Roman times, by clicking on
the following link URL and cursoring down to the listing:
www.saarwein.com/e_chroni.htm
5 = Exceptional; 4 = Unusually Good; 3 = Good; 2 = Average; 1 = Below Average;
"-" = info not available; "*" = Drink up or pour away !; ">" = greater than.
Note: New vintages assigned "t", indicating temporary initial evaluation.
N. American Vintage Geographical Location
A = California Red (Napa/Sonoma Cabernet)
B = California White (Napa/Sonoma Chardonnay)
C = Erie, Finger Lakes *Whites* (W. NY, USA)
D = Long Island, Hudson Valley *Reds* (E. NY, USA)
E = Michigan, Ohio (USA)
F = Niagara Peninsula *Whites* (Ont., Canada)
G = Okanagan (Brit. Columbia, Canada)
H = Oregon (Pacific N.W. USA)
I = Washington (Pacific N.W. USA)
Vintages of N. AMERICA (1980 - 1999)
A B C D E F G H I
-------------------------------------------------
| | | | | | | | |
1999 t - - - - - - - - -
1998 t >2 >2 5 5 5 5 >4 >4 >4
1997 t 4 4 4 >4 >3 >4 >4 >3 >4
1996 >3 4 >2 3 2 >2 3 3 2
1995 5 3 5 5 5 5 3 >2 2
1994 >3 >4 4 >4 1 3 3 3 3
1993 2 2 4 4 >3 >3 3 2 3
1992 4 4 1 1 2 >2 3 3 3
1991 5 5 4 5 4 >4 3 4 3
1990 >4 4 4 >4 4 4 3 3 3
1989 3 3 3 >2 - 3 - 3 4
1988 3 >3 >4 5 - >4 - 3 4
1987 4 4 >3 3 - >3 - >2 4
1986 4 4 >1 3 - 2 >4 >3 2
1985 5 >4 >3 >2 - >4 * 4 4
1984 >3 4 3 3 - 2 * >1 2
1983 4 >4 - 3 - >3 * 4 4
1982 >4 4 - >3 - 3 * >2 >1
1981 4 >4 - >4 - >1 * 3 3
1980 >4 4 - >4 - 4 * >3 3
The Liquor Control Board of Ontario, Canada, carries a WWW page dealing with North
American "Quality Wine" vintages at the URL:
LCBO Vintage Tables
(Canadian vintages appear at the URL: Niagara (Ontario)
vintages)
It is under continual construction, so occasional periods of shutdown should be
expected.
Australian Vintage Geographical Location
A = Barossa Red (S.Australia)
B = Barossa White (S. Australia)
C = Coonawarra Red (S. Australia)
D = Coonawarra White (S. Australia)
E = Hunter Red (N.S.W)
F = Hunter White (N.S.W)
G = Yarra Red (Victoria)
H = Yarra White (Victoria)
I = Tasmania Red
J = Tasmania White
Vintages of AUSTRALIA (1980 - 1999)
A B C D E F G H I J
------------------------------------------------------------
| | | | | | | | | |
1999 t - - - - - - - - - -
1998 t >4 >4 - - 5 5 - - >4 >4
1997 t >4 >3 >4 4 4 >2 >4 3 3 >3
1996 t 4 >3 3 >3 >3 3 2 >1 1 >1
1995 5 5 >2 3 >4 4 5 5 5 5
1994 >4 >4 >4 4 >3 >2 4 4 - -
1993 3 2 3 2 >1 >2 3 >2 - -
1992 4 3 3 3 >1 >1 4 4 - -
1991 >4 4 >3 4 4 4 4 4 - -
1990 >4 >3 >4 >3 >2 >3 4 >2 - -
1989 3 >3 3 * >3 >2 3 * - -
1988 >3 >3 4 4 >3 * >4 >4 - -
1987 4 * >3 * >3 4 >2 * - -
1986 >4 5 >4 * >4 * >4 * - -
1985 4 * >3 * >3 * 4 * - -
1984 5 5 >4 >4 4 * 4 * - -
1983 2 * 3 * 4 * >1 * - -
1982 4 * 4 * 4 * >4 * - -
1981 2 * 3 * >3 * >3 * - -
1980 >3 * 4 * 4 * >4 * - -
The Liquor Control Board of Ontario Canada carries a WWW page dealing with Australian
"Quality Wine" vintages at the URL:
LCBO Vintage
Tables
It is under continual construction, so occasional periods of shutdown should be
expected.
Bulgaria/Romania Vintage Geographical Location
A = N.E. Bulgaria
B = S. Bulgaria
C = N. Romania
D = S. Romania
Vintages of Bulgaria/Romania (1990 - 1999)
Bulgaria Romania
A B C D
------ ------
| | | |
1999 t - - - -
1998 t - - - -
1997 t - - - -
1996 t - - - -
1995 - - - -
1994 - - - -
1993 4 4 - -
1992 >3 >3 - -
1991 2 2 - -
1990 5 5 - -
French Vintage Geographical Location
A = Bordeaux Red
B = Bordeaux White (Dry)
C = Bordeaux White (Late Harvest Sweet)
D = Burgundy Red
E = Burgundy White
F = Loire Red
G = Loire White (Dry)
H = Alsace
I = Champagne
J = Rhone (Red)
K = Rhone (White)
L = Languedoc-Roussillon
Vintages of FRANCE (1980 - 1999)
A B C D E F G H I J K L
--------------------------------------------------------
| | | | | | | | | | | |
1999 t - - - - - - - - - - - -
1998 t >3 3 2 >1 >1 1 1 1 1 4 >3 >4
1997 t 3 >2 >4 4 4 3 4 >3 3 >3 4 4
1996 t >3 >3 >4 5 5 >3 5 >3 4 >3 >3 2
1995 4 4 >4 4 >4 4 4 >4 5 >4 4 >4
1994 >3 4 3 3 3 2 >2 3 >3 >3 3 4
1993 3 >3 1 4 >2 4 3 4 >2 >2 3 >4
1992 >2 >3 >1 >3 3 >3 3 >3 3 >3 3 >1
1991 >1 2 >2 2 1 1 1 >1 2 >2 3 >4
1990 >4 5 >4 5 >4 5 5 5 5 >4 4 4
1989 5 4 5 >4 4 5 5 5 5 >4 5 4
1988 >3 3 5 >4 >3 3 4 >4 >4 4 4 4
1987 3 2 1 3 * * * * 1 >2 * >1
1986 4 4 >4 2 * * 3 * >3 >3 * *
1985 4 4 3 >3 4 4 >4 4 5 >4 * *
1984 2 1 2 >1 * * * * 1 2 * *
1983 >3 3 4 3 4 * * 5 3 4 * *
1982 5 3 >3 * * * * * 4 4 * *
1981 3 3 >3 * * * * 4 >3 2 * *
1980 2 1 >3 3 * * * * 1 >2 * *
Readers interested in "Quality Wine" vintages can access a link to a UK site at
the URL:
Berry Bros. (UK) Vintage Tables
These deal mainly with classic French wines but go back for 150 years.
German Vintage Geographical Location
A = Rheingau
B = Rheinhessen
C = Mosel-Saar-Ruwer
D = Pfalz
E = Baden
Vintages of Germany (1980 - 1999)
A B C D E
-------------------------------------
| | | | |
1999 t - - - - -
1998 t 1 1 1 1 1
1997 t 3 3 3 >2 2
1996 >3 >3 3 4 3
1995 3 3 5 >2 2
1994 4 4 >4 4 >3
1993 >3 3 4 3 3
1992 >3 >3 >2 3 3
1991 >2 >3 3 3 >2
1990 >4 >4 >4 >4 5
1989 4 4 >4 4 5
1988 >3 4 4 4 4
1987 * * * * *
1986 * * * * *
1985 >3 3 >3 3 4
1984 * * * * *
1983 4 >3 4 >3 *
1982 * * * * *
1981 * * 4 * *
1980 * * * * *
The Liquor Control Board of Ontario, Canada, carries a WWW page dealing with German
"Quality Wine" vintages at the URL:
LCBO Vintage Tables
It is under continual construction, so occasional periods of shutdown should be
expected.
Hungary/Austria Geographical Location
A = Great Plain (S.) Hungary
B = Northern Massif (N.E) Hungary
C = Sopron (N.W) Hungary
D = Transdanubia (S.W) Hungary
E = Tokaji Late Harvest
F = Lower (N.W) Austria
G = Burgenland (W) Austria
H = Styria (S.E) Austria
I = Vienna
Vintages of HUNGARY/AUSTRIA (1980 -1999)
Hungary Tokaji Austria
A B C D E F G H I
------------------- - ------------------
| | | | | | | | |
1999 t - - - - - - - - -
1998 t >4 >4 >4 >4 >4 - - - -
1997 t 4 4 4 4 >4 >4 4 >4 4
1996 t 2 3 3 2 3 3 >2 3 >2
1995 >3 3 3 >3 >3 >4 >3 4 3
1994 - - - - 1 4 >4 4 4
1993 - - - - 5 >2 3 >2 3
1992 - - - - 2 >2 3 >2 >3
1991 2 2 2 2 2 2 >2 >1 >1
1990 4 4 4 4 4 4 >4 5 >4
1989 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 >3 >2
1988 5 5 5 5 5 3 3 3 >3
1987 >2 >2 >2 >2 2 3 3 >4 3
1986 2 2 2 2 2 >4 >4 4 >4
1985 2 2 2 2 2 >4 >3 2 >4
1984 2 2 2 2 2 * 4 4 -
1983 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 -
1982 4 4 4 4 4 * * * *
1981 3 3 3 3 3 * * * *
1980 0 0 0 0 0 * * * *
Italy Vintage Geographical Location
A = Friuli (N. Italy)
B = Piemonte ( " " )
C = Veneto ( " " )
D = Toscana (N. Central Italy)
E = Latium/Abruzzi (Central Italy)
F = Calabria/Apulia (S. Italy)
Vintages of ITALY (1980 - 1999)
A B C D E F
-------------------------------
| | | | | |
1999 t - - - - - -
1998 t - >4 - >4 - 4
1997 t 4 >4 >4 >4 >4 4
1996 >3 4 >3 4 >2 3
1995 3 >2 3 >3 3 3
1994 3 3 4 4 3 >3
1993 >2 3 >2 3 3 3
1992 3 >2 3 3 2 3
1991 3 >3 3 2 2 >2
1990 >4 >4 >4 >4 3 3
1989 >4 4 4 3 3 3
1988 >3 4 >4 >4 2 4
1987 * * * * 2 2
1986 >4 4 4 4 3 3
1985 4 4 4 >3 4 4
1984 * * * * - -
1983 * * * * - -
1982 >4 >4 4 >4 - -
1981 * * * * - -
1980 * * * * - -
The Liquor Control Board of Ontario, Canada, carries a WWW page dealing with Italian
"Quality Wine" vintages at the URL:
LCBO Vintage Tables
It is under continual construction, so occasional periods of shutdown should be
expected.
New Zealand Vintage Geographical Location
A = Auckland
B = Gisbourne
C = Hawkes Bay
D = Martinborough
E = Marlborough/Nelson
F = Canterbury
G = Central Otago
Vintages of NEW ZEALAND (1985 - 1999)
N.Z Red N.Z White
A B C D E F G A B C D E F G
------------------------- -------------------------
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
1999 t - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1998 t 4 4 >4 >4 5 5 - >4 >4 >4 4 5 >4 5
1997 t >3 >2 >3 5 >4 3 3 4 3 >3 >4 >4 4 3
1996 >2 >1 2 5 >3 2 3 3 >3 >3 >4 >3 3 >2
1995 2 3 >3 >3 >2 >4 3 2 3 >3 >3 >2 >4 3
1994 4 >4 4 4 >4 >3 3 4 >4 4 >4 4 >3 >3
1993 >4 >1 >1 2 3 >2 >3 >4 2 2 >2 3 >1 >3
1992 3 3 3 >2 3 >3 3 3 4 4 3 >3 3 >2
1991 >3 >3 >4 4 4 >3 2 >3 3 5 5 5 >3 >2
1990 3 >3 >3 >3 4 >3 >3 >3 3 >2 >2 >2 3 >3
1989 5 5 >4 5 >4 5 >1 >4 4 >4 3 >4 >4 >2
1988 >1 1 >1 >3 4 >2 - >2 2 >1 >4 4 >2 1
1987 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1986 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1985 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Spain/Portugal Vintage Geographical Location
A = Rioja - N.N.E. Spain (nr. Haro, Rioja)
B = Penedes/Priorat (aka "Panades" - N.E. Spain (nr. Barcelona, Catalonia)
C = Ribera de Duero - N. Central Spain (nr. Valladolid, Old Castile)
D = Valdepenas - S. Central Spain (south of Madrid, La Mancha)
E = Rueda - N. Central Spain (nr. Valladolid, Old Castile)
F = Rias Baixas (Galicia)
G = Navarra
H = Portugal Red (Douro, Dao averaged.)
Vintages of SPAIN/PORTUGAL (1985 - 1999)
Spain Portugal
A B C D E F G H
------------------------------------- -
| | | | | | | |
1999 t - - - - - - - -
1998 t >4 >4 >3 - - - - 2
1997 t 4 >3 2 >3 >3 2 3 4
1996 t >2 3 >4 >3 3 >2 >2 2
1995 >3 4 >3 3 3 4 >3 3
1994 >4 4 4 4 >4 >3 4 >3
1993 >2 3 2 >1 2 2 >2 1
1992 3 >3 >3 2 >2 2 3 4
1991 2 >2 2 3 3 >2 2 4
1990 3 4 >4 4 4 >3 4 3
1989 >3 * * * * - - *
1988 >3 * * * * - - *
1987 4 * * * * - - *
1986 3 * * * * - - *
1985 3 * * * * - - *
Notes on wines of Spain.
------------------------
Some years may only list Rioja data. Recent other vintages are
expressed on a regional basis for some areas. Regions may
vary and some wines - e.g. fortified Cava or Sherry wines -
do not have annual vintage dates.
Readers interested in looking at a comprehensive set of
vintage tables should access the URL:
Jens Riis Spanish Wine Vintage
Tables
for a detailed review of Spanish wine vintages.
The Liquor Control Board of Ontario, Canada, carries a WWW page dealing with
Portuguese "Quality Wine" vintages at the URL:
LCBO Vintage
Tables
It is under continual construction, so occasional periods of shutdown should be
expected.
South Africa/Argentina/Chile Vintage Geographical Location
A = S. Africa (Reds)
B = S. Africa (Whites)
C = Argentina (Reds)
D = Argentina (Whites)
E = Chile (Reds)
F = Chile (Whites)
Vintages of SOUTH AFRICA/ARGENTINA/CHILE (1980 - 1999)
S. Africa Argentina Chile
A B C D E F
------- ------- -------
| | | | | |
1999 t - - - - - -
1998 t 3 2 2 >1 >3 >3
1997 t 4 3 >4 3 4 4
1996 t >2 2 4 >3 >4 4
1995 >4 >3 5 - 4 >3
1994 4 3 >3 - 2 3
1993 3 4 >4 - 3 >3
1992 5 * >3 - >3 3
1991 4 * 3 - - -
1990 * * >4 - 4 -
1989 4 * >3 - 4 *
1988 * * 3 - - *
1987 4 * * - >4 *
1986 5 * * - - *
1985 * * * - - *
1984 * * * - - *
1983 * * * - - *
1982 * * * - - *
1981 * * * - - *
1980 * * * - - *
The above vintage judgements are a composite from various sources. Some tables
are not yet complete, pending further information and additional columns may be
added as soon as suitable details are obtained. These vintage-tables can be freely
downloaded in ASCII text and hypertexted versions, the sole restriction being
the retention of my authors credit on all copies. This document currently occupies
aprox. 27 Kbytes of storage space and gives about 11 hardcopy pages.
The New York State (USA) information is derived from various publications by
the New York Wine and Grape Foundation, 350 Elm St., Penn Yan, NY 14527 Tel. No:
(315) 536-7442 ... Fax: (315) 536-0719.
For pre-1995 vintage information I am indebted to Daniel Lopez Roca for the
vintages of Argentina, Simon Goldberg for the S. African vintage information,
Tom Beard for some vintage conditions in New Zealand, Daniel Caballero for the
Spanish vintages and comments, Jean Michel Cazes of Pauillac, France for info.
on the Hungarian Tokaji sweet wines plus some earlier Bordeaux modifications and
James Manning of Cambridge, UK, for Loire and Bordeaux dry whites info. Other
information has been obtained over a period of time from subscribers to Usenet
groups and WWW sites with a wine-info content.
Most people seriously interested in vintages know that most dated table wines
are vinified to be consumed immediately after release or, at most, within about
three to seven years from the harvest date. For example, only red or sweet white
wines from the greatest sites in Bordeaux are expected to consistently improve
while aging and then only from the best vintages, properly stored. Great vintage
1st growth Cru's will generally require a minimum of ageing for 10 to 20 years,
the lesser Cru's for 8 to 15 years and Bourgeoise Cru's for about 3 to 10 years.
Most Bordeaux VDQS reds from better vintages will often keep for extended periods
without much, if any, noticeable improvement.
Aging improvement can also be expected from the finest french Loire Chenin
Blanc sweet white wines, fine Burgundy reds and whites, California northern county
produced wines, Italian Piedmont Nebbiolo-grapewines and also some Australian
red and white wines, especially "Grange".
Riesling grapewines from Germany, especially "eisweins" (aka "ice-wine") and
the Pradikat rated Auslese series of sweet wines, notable for high sugar content
and low alcohol, can generally be kept for at least 20 years with expectations
of considerable improvement potential. Most high-grade Spanish red wines, the
Gran Reserva's, have already been aged prior to release date so are often drinkable
at that time or can be kept longer. Otherwise the vast majority of both red and
white wines found in retail stores are designed to be consumed shortly after release
and may deteriorate somewhat from their best if stored for long periods. The "star"
(*) character, where used in the above tables, usually indicates that this style
of wine vintage has "peaked" and is now past its best.
For that reason, vintage judgements are not included at present, for whites
from Italy, Portugal or Spain; and only briefly for New York and S. African and
some other white tablewines. There are exceptions of course - (eg: the great French,
German, Hungarian and other sweet wines) - but not enough others to currently
merit a full-length column.
Return to
N. America Table
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Table
Return to Bulgaria/Romania
Table
Return to France
Table
Return to Germany
Table
Return to Hungary/Austria
Table
Return to Italy
Table
Return to New
Zealand Table
Return to South
Africa/Argentina/Chile Table
Return to Spain/Portugal
Table
Return to
Foreword
Return to Table
Key
Return to Notes
Email: hawkins@king.alfred.edu
*******************************************************************
(Disclaimer: The above email address is for identification purposes only and may
not be valid after 10-1999. The views/opinions expressed above are solely those
of the writer).
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