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United States. Growing season April–October, harvest usually September–October. 26 vintages of weather, 2000–2025.
Photo: Bernt Rostad, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Over the 30 growing seasons from 1991 to 2020, Columbia Valley's vines saw on average 1,590 growing degree days between April and October. That puts it in Winkler region II, close in heat and rain to Colchagua Valley, Ribera del Duero and Coonawarra. In a typical year about 68 mm of rain falls in the growing season, 25 mm of it in September–October.
Since 2000 the warmest season was 2015 (+22% against normal) and the coolest 2011 (-11%). The wettest harvest window was 2016, with 77 mm against a normal 25 mm.
The last 10 vintages (2016–2025) averaged +11% against the 1991–2020 normal, compared with -2% for 2000–2009; 10 of those 10 seasons were warmer than normal by more than 3%.
Growing degree days (base 10°C) for each season. The dashed line is the 1991–2020 normal (1,590 GDD) and the shaded band one standard deviation either side: about two years in three fall inside it.
Full bar: rain over the whole growing season. Dark part: rain in the harvest window (September–October). The line is the normal season total, 68 mm.
Apr–Oct 2025
Much warmer
Hot months: Apr +2.2° Jun +2.8° Sep +3.6°
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 3 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Apr–Oct 2024
Much warmer
Hot months: Jul +3.1° Sep +2.8° Oct +2.2°
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 7 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Apr–Oct 2023
Much warmer
Hot months: May +4.0° Jun +2.1° Jul +2.0°
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 5 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Apr–Oct 2022
Much warmer
Hot months: Jul +2.6° Aug +3.9° Sep +2.3° Oct +4.2°
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 6 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Apr–Oct 2021
Much warmer
Hot months: Apr +3.2° Jun +5.2° Jul +3.5°
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 2 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Apr–Oct 2020
Much warmer
Hot months: Apr +2.6°
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 11 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Apr–Oct 2019
Warmer
No month ran 2°C above its normal high
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 17 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Apr–Oct 2018
Warmer
Hot months: May +4.2° Jul +2.1°
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 12 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Apr–Oct 2017
Much warmer
Hot months: Jul +2.1° Aug +3.0°
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 9 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Apr–Oct 2016
Much warmer
Hot months: Apr +5.4°
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 8 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Apr–Oct 2015
Much warmer
Hot months: May +2.3° Jun +5.7° Oct +3.4°
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 1 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Apr–Oct 2014
Much warmer
Hot months: Jul +2.5° Oct +2.7°
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 4 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Apr–Oct 2013
Warmer
Hot months: Jul +2.5°
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 13 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Apr–Oct 2012
Near normal
No month ran 2°C above its normal high
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 18 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Apr–Oct 2011
Much cooler
Hot months: Sep +2.9°
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 26 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Apr–Oct 2010
Much cooler
No month ran 2°C above its normal high
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 25 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Apr–Oct 2009
Warmer
No month ran 2°C above its normal high
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 14 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Apr–Oct 2008
Cooler
No month ran 2°C above its normal high
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 22 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Apr–Oct 2007
Cooler
No month ran 2°C above its normal high
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 20 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Apr–Oct 2006
Warmer
Hot months: Jul +2.3°
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 16 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Apr–Oct 2005
Near normal
No month ran 2°C above its normal high
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 19 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Apr–Oct 2004
Warmer
Hot months: Apr +2.0°
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 15 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Apr–Oct 2003
Much warmer
Hot months: Jun +2.0° Oct +2.9°
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 10 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Apr–Oct 2002
Much cooler
No month ran 2°C above its normal high
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 23 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Apr–Oct 2001
Cooler
Hot months: May +2.0°
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 21 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Apr–Oct 2000
Much cooler
Hot months: Apr +2.1°
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 24 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
| Vintage | GDD | vs normal | Season rain | Harvest rain | Hottest month (mean high) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,870 | +18% | 44 mm | 20 mm | July 34.4°C |
| 2024 | 1,760 | +11% | 32 mm | 8 mm | July 35.8°C |
| 2023 | 1,810 | +14% | 57 mm | 25 mm | July 34.7°C |
| 2022 | 1,790 | +13% | 88 mm | 13 mm | August 36.4°C |
| 2021 | 1,890 | +19% | 45 mm | 33 mm | July 36.2°C |
| 2020 | 1,720 | +9% | 46 mm | 11 mm | August 33.6°C |
| 2019 | 1,640 | +3% | 73 mm | 25 mm | August 33.2°C |
| 2018 | 1,690 | +6% | 63 mm | 28 mm | July 34.8°C |
| 2017 | 1,730 | +9% | 69 mm | 33 mm | August 35.5°C |
| 2016 | 1,750 | +10% | 108 mm | 77 mm | August 33.2°C |
| 2015 | 1,930 | +22% | 39 mm | 16 mm | July 34.3°C |
| 2014 | 1,820 | +15% | 64 mm | 34 mm | July 35.2°C |
| 2013 | 1,670 | +5% | 98 mm | 43 mm | July 35.2°C |
| 2012 | 1,580 | -0% | 99 mm | 28 mm | August 33.9°C |
| 2011 | 1,410 | -11% | 61 mm | 13 mm | August 33.3°C |
| 2010 | 1,410 | -11% | 98 mm | 48 mm | July 32.6°C |
| 2009 | 1,660 | +5% | 57 mm | 24 mm | July 34.2°C |
| 2008 | 1,460 | -8% | 42 mm | 10 mm | July 32.7°C |
| 2007 | 1,520 | -4% | 49 mm | 18 mm | July 34.4°C |
| 2006 | 1,640 | +4% | 58 mm | 17 mm | July 35.0°C |
| 2005 | 1,560 | -1% | 55 mm | 22 mm | August 33.5°C |
| 2004 | 1,660 | +5% | 97 mm | 26 mm | July 33.1°C |
| 2003 | 1,730 | +9% | 44 mm | 8 mm | July 34.3°C |
| 2002 | 1,450 | -9% | 43 mm | 6 mm | July 33.5°C |
| 2001 | 1,490 | -6% | 50 mm | 15 mm | August 33.0°C |
| 2000 | 1,430 | -10% | 70 mm | 33 mm | August 31.3°C |
| 1991–2020 | 1,590 | ±9% (1 SD) | 68 mm | 25 mm |
The closest matches on this site by normal heat and season rain. Similar weather is one ingredient; soils, slopes and grapes differ.
