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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 generalized table figures are NOT cast in cement. The intent is merely to "indicate" the vintage years most likely to make wine fans happiest. 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. 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.
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)
A B C D E F G H I
------------------------------------------------
| | | | | | | | |
1996 t - - - - - - - - -
1995 t 4 4 >4 >4 >4 >4 4 1 2
1994 t >4 >4 >3 4 - 4 >4 4 >4
1993 3 3 4 4 - >3 3 2 2
1992 >3 4 >2 3 - >2 >3 >3 4
1991 4 4 >4 >4 4 >4 >3 4 3
1990 >4 4 4 4 - 4 >4 3 3
1989 3 3 3 2 - 3 - 3 4
1988 3 >3 5 5 - >4 - 3 4
1987 4 4 >3 4 - >3 - >2 4
1986 4 4 >1 >3 - 2 * >3 2
1985 4 >4 >3 2 - >4 * 4 4
1984 >3 4 3 4 - 2 * >1 2
1983 4 >4 - 4 - >3 * 4 4
1982 >4 4 - >4 - 3 * >2 >1
1981 4 >4 - >1 - >1 * 3 3
1980 >4 4 - 4 - 4 * >3 3
1979 4 >3 * * * * * * *
1978 >4 4 * * * * * * *
1977 >3 4 * * * * * * *
1976 4 4 * * * * * * *
1975 >3 >4 * * * * * * *
The Liquor Control Board of Ontario, Canada, carries a WWW page dealing with
North American "Quality Wine" vintages at the URL:
LCBO Vintage Tables
It is under continual construction, so occasional periods of shutdown should
be expected.
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)
A B C D E F G H
------------------------------------------------
| | | | | | | |
1996 t - - - - 4 4 - -
1995 t >3 >3 - - >3 >3 - -
1994 t - - - - >3 >2 - -
1993 >2 3 - - >2 3 - -
1992 3 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 * 3 *
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 *
1979 4 * - * 5 * - *
1978 >3 * - * >3 * - *
1977 >3 * - * 3 * - *
1976 5 * - * >3 * - *
1975 >3 * - * 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.
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)
A B C D E F G H I J K
---------------------------------------------------
| | | | | | | | | | |
1996 t - - - - - - - - - - -
1995 t 4 4 4 4 4 - - 4 4 4 4
1994 t >3 >3 >3 3 >4 - - 3 >3 >3 3
1993 3 3 3 4 3 2 3 >3 2 >1 1
1992 2 3 3 3 4 2 3 3 2 >2 2
1991 2 2 2 3 3 1 1 >1 2 >2 3
1990 >4 5 5 5 4 4 4 >4 5 >4 4
1989 5 5 5 4 4 5 5 5 5 >4 5
1988 >3 3 >4 >4 >3 3 4 4 >3 4 4
1987 3 2 1 3 3 3 * >2 1 >2 *
1986 4 4 4 >2 3 3 * 3 >2 >3 *
1985 4 4 3 >3 >3 4 * 4 5 >4 *
1984 2 1 2 >2 >2 * * 1 1 2 *
1983 >3 3 >3 >3 4 3 * 5 3 4 *
1982 5 3 >3 2 4 3 * 2 4 4 *
1981 3 3 >3 >3 >3 3 * 4 >3 2 *
1980 2 1 >3 >2 3 * * 1 1 >2 *
1979 3 4 >4 >3 3 2 * * >3 * *
1978 3 4 4 >4 4 4 * >2 * 5 *
1977 2 * * 2 >2 * * * * * *
1976 >3 * 4 >4 4 5 * 5 4 >3 *
1975 >4 4 5 2 >2 * * * >3 * *
1974 2 * * 3 3 * * * * >2 *
1973 2 * 2 >2 4 * * * * * *
1972 1 * * >3 3 * * * * * *
1971 3 * 5 >3 >3 * * * * * *
1970 >4 * 3 3 4 * * * * >4 *
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.
A = Rheingau B = Rheinhessen C = Mosel-Saar-Ruwer D = Pfalz E = Baden
A B C D E
-------------------------------------
| | | | |
1996 t - - - - -
1995 t >3 >3 >3 3 3
1994 t 4 >3 >4 >3 >3
1993 >3 3 >3 3 3
1992 >3 >3 3 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 * * * * 1
1986 3 3 3 >3 >3
1985 >3 3 >3 3 4
1984 * * * * *
1983 4 >3 4 >3 *
1982 * * * * *
1981 * * 4 * *
1980 * * * * *
1979 * * >3 * *
1978 * * * * *
1977 * * * * *
1976 5 >4 >4 >4 *
1975 4 4 >4 4 *
1974 * * * * *
1973 * * * * *
1972 * * * * *
1971 5 5 5 5 *
1970 * * * * *
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.
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
Hungary Tokaji Austria
A B C D E F G H
------------------- - -------------
| | | | | | | |
1996 t - - - - - - - -
1995 t - - - - - 2 2 2
1994 t - - - - - - - -
1993 - - - - 5 - - -
1992 - - - - >3 - - -
1991 2 2 2 2 - * * *
1990 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5
1989 4 4 4 4 - * 3 3
1988 5 5 5 5 5 * * *
1987 >2 >2 >2 >2 - * * *
1986 2 2 2 2 - 5 5 5
1985 2 2 2 2 - * 4 >4
1984 2 2 2 2 - * 4 4
1983 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
1982 4 4 4 4 - * * *
1981 3 3 3 3 - * * *
1980 0 0 0 0 - * * *
1979 4 4 4 4 - 5 5 5
1978 1 1 1 1 - * * *
1977 0 0 0 0 - * * *
1976 3 3 3 3 - * * *
1975 4 4 4 4 5 * * *
1974 0 0 0 0 - * * *
1973 3 3 3 3 4 * 4 *
1972 5 5 5 5 5 * * *
A = Friuli (N. Italy) B = Piemonte ( " " ) C = Veneto ( " " ) D = Toscana (N. Central Italy) E = Latium/Abruzzi (Central Italy) F = Calabria/Apulia (S. Italy)
A B C D E F
-------------------------------
| | | | | |
1996 t - - - - - -
1995 t - - 4 - - -
1994 t - - - - - -
1993 >2 4 >2 4 - -
1992 3 >2 3 >3 - -
1991 3 >2 3 >2 - -
1990 >4 >4 >4 >4 - -
1989 >4 4 4 3 - -
1988 >3 >4 >4 >4 - -
1987 >3 >2 4 >2 - -
1986 >4 4 4 4 - -
1985 4 >4 4 4 - -
1984 >2 >2 >2 >2 - -
1983 4 >3 >3 4 - -
1982 >4 >4 4 >4 - -
1981 >3 3 >3 3 - -
1980 >2 >3 >3 >3 - -
1979 >4 4 4 4 - -
1978 4 >4 3 5 - -
1977 * * * * - -
1976 * * * * - -
1975 * * * * - -
1974 * >4 * * - -
1973 * 4 * 4 - -
1972 * * * * - -
1971 4 5 >4 5 - -
1970 * 4 * >4 - -
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 shoul
be expected.
A = Auckland B = Gisbourne C = Hawkes Bay D = Martinborough E = Marlborough/Nelson F = Canterbury G = Central Otago
N.Z Red N.Z White
A B C D E F G A B C D E F G
------------------------- -------------------------
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
1996 t - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1995 t - - - - - - - - - >2 >2 >1 >2 >2
1994 >4 >4 4 >4 4 3 3 4 >4 >4 >4 4 >2 >3
1993 >4 >1 >1 >3 >2 >2 >3 >4 >2 >2 >2 >2 >1 >3
1992 >2 >2 >2 >2 >1 3 >2 >2 >3 >3 >2 >2 >2 3
1991 >3 3 >4 4 >3 >3 >2 >3 3 4 >3 >4 >3 >2
1990 3 >2 >3 >3 >2 >2 >3 >3 >2 >2 >2 2 3 >1
1989 >4 4 4 4 >3 >3 >1 >4 4 >4 3 4 4 >1
1988 >1 1 >1 >3 >2 >2 - >2 1 >1 >4 >3 >2 -
1987 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1986 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1985 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A = Rioja - N.N.E. Spain (nr. Haro, Rioja)
B = Penedes (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 = Portugal Red (Douro, Dao averaged.)
Spain Portugal
A B C D E F
------------------------- -
| | | | | |
1996 t - - - - - -
1995 t - - - - - -
1994 t 5 - - - - -
1993 4 - - - - 3
1992 3 - - - - 4
1991 4 >4 4 - - 4
1990 3 4 >4 - - 3
1989 >3 >3 4 - - 3
1988 >3 >3 2 4 3 4
1987 4 >4 3 3 3 >1
1986 3 2 4 4 2 3
1985 3 4 4 2 3 4
1984 2 4 * 5 * 3
1983 3 * * * * >4
1982 5 4 4 3 4 >4
1981 >2 * * * * 1
1980 3 4 3 * * >4
1979 1 * * * * *
1978 3 * * * * 4
1977 1 * * * * *
1976 2 * * * * *
1975 4 >4 * * * 4
1974 1 * * * * 4
1973 3 * 4 * * *
1972 1 * * * * *
Notes on wines of Spain.
------------------------
Recent years only list Rioja data. 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.
A = S. Africa (Reds) B = S. Africa (Whites) C = Argentina (Reds) D = Chile (Reds) E = Chile (Whites)
S. Africa Argentina Chile
A B C D E
------- - -------
| | | | |
1996 t - - - - -
1995 t - - - 4 >3
1994 t - - - 2 3
1993 4 4 - >3 4
1992 4 >3 - >3 3
1991 >4 >3 - - -
1990 4 >3 - 4 -
1989 >3 >2 - 4 *
1988 >3 3 - - *
1987 >4 3 - - *
1986 >4 >2 - - *
1985 2 * - - *
1984 >4 * - - *
1983 2 * - - *
1982 >3 * - - *
1981 >2 * - - *
1980 3 * - - *
1979 >2 * - - *
1978 >3 * - - *
1977 2 * - >4 *
1976 >3 * - - *
1975 2 * - - *
1974 >4 * - - *
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. 25 Kbytes of storage space and gives about 9 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. I am indebted to Simon Goldberg for the S. African vintage information, Tom Beard for recent vintage conditions in New Zealand, Daniel Caballero for the Spanish vintages table and comments, Jean Michel Cazes of Pauillac, France for info. on the Hungarian Tokaji sweet wines and some Bordeaux modifications and James Manning of Cambridge, UK, for Loire and Bordeaux dry whites info. Other information was obtained over a period of time from subscribers to the FoodWine list (foodwine@cmuvm.csv.cmich.edu), 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 within three to five years from the vintage. 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 Burgundy, California northern county produced wines, Italian Piedmont Nebbiolo-grape wines and also some Australian red and white wines, especially "Grange". Riesling-grape Eis-wines, (aka "Ice-wine"), 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. 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 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
Return to Hungary/Austria Table
Return to South Africa/Argentina/Chile Table
Return to Spain/Portugal Table
Last updated - (29-JAN-1996) by Anthony J. Hawkins.(hawkins@bigvax.alfred.edu)
******************************************************************* (Disclaimer: The above email address is for identification purposes only. The views/opinions expressed above are solely those of the writer).