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United States. Growing season April–October, harvest usually September–October. 26 vintages of weather, 2000–2025.
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Over the 30 growing seasons from 1991 to 2020, Finger Lakes's vines saw on average 1,350 growing degree days between April and October. That puts it in Winkler region I, close in heat and rain to Niagara Peninsula, Burgundy (Côte d'Or) and Hawke's Bay. In a typical year about 569 mm of rain falls in the growing season, 157 mm of it in September–October.
Since 2000 the warmest season was 2018 (+16% against normal) and the coolest 2009 (-14%). The wettest harvest window was 2011, with 267 mm against a normal 157 mm.
The last 10 vintages (2016–2025) averaged +9% against the 1991–2020 normal, compared with -5% for 2000–2009; 8 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 (1,350 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, 569 mm.
Apr–Oct 2025
Warmer
Hot months: 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 14 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Apr–Oct 2024
Much warmer
Hot months: Oct +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 4 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Apr–Oct 2023
Near normal
Hot months: Apr +3.1°
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 I
Apr–Oct 2022
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 12 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Apr–Oct 2021
Much warmer
Hot months: Jun +2.4° Oct +3.2°
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 II
Apr–Oct 2020
Warmer
Hot months: Jul +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 10 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Apr–Oct 2019
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 15 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Apr–Oct 2018
Much warmer
Hot months: May +3.7°
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 II
Apr–Oct 2017
Warmer
Hot months: Apr +3.0° Oct +4.1°
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 II
Apr–Oct 2016
Much warmer
Hot months: Aug +2.3° Sep +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 3 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Apr–Oct 2015
Warmer
Hot months: May +3.7° Sep +2.8°
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 II
Apr–Oct 2014
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 I
Apr–Oct 2013
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 17 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Apr–Oct 2012
Much warmer
Hot months: May +2.8°
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 II
Apr–Oct 2011
Much warmer
Hot months: Jul +2.4°
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 II
Apr–Oct 2010
Much warmer
Hot months: Apr +4.1° Jul +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 6 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Apr–Oct 2009
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 26 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Apr–Oct 2008
Cooler
Hot months: Apr +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 23 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Apr–Oct 2007
Much warmer
Hot months: Oct +3.8°
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 II
Apr–Oct 2006
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 21 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Apr–Oct 2005
Warmer
Hot months: Jun +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 9 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Apr–Oct 2004
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 I
Apr–Oct 2003
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 24 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Apr–Oct 2002
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 I
Apr–Oct 2001
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 20 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Apr–Oct 2000
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 I
| Vintage | GDD | vs normal | Season rain | Harvest rain | Hottest month (mean high) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,430 | +6% | 513 mm | 110 mm | July 29.7°C |
| 2024 | 1,530 | +13% | 604 mm | 84 mm | July 28.9°C |
| 2023 | 1,370 | +1% | 598 mm | 143 mm | July 28.4°C |
| 2022 | 1,440 | +7% | 527 mm | 138 mm | July 28.6°C |
| 2021 | 1,560 | +16% | 748 mm | 226 mm | August 28.4°C |
| 2020 | 1,450 | +8% | 527 mm | 149 mm | July 29.8°C |
| 2019 | 1,380 | +2% | 690 mm | 159 mm | July 28.7°C |
| 2018 | 1,570 | +16% | 630 mm | 180 mm | July 29.0°C |
| 2017 | 1,430 | +6% | 635 mm | 174 mm | July 26.9°C |
| 2016 | 1,530 | +14% | 486 mm | 181 mm | July 29.4°C |
| 2015 | 1,440 | +7% | 508 mm | 131 mm | July 26.8°C |
| 2014 | 1,350 | +0% | 557 mm | 96 mm | July 26.5°C |
| 2013 | 1,360 | +0% | 567 mm | 137 mm | July 28.1°C |
| 2012 | 1,500 | +11% | 528 mm | 163 mm | July 29.3°C |
| 2011 | 1,460 | +8% | 789 mm | 267 mm | July 30.0°C |
| 2010 | 1,490 | +10% | 519 mm | 186 mm | July 29.8°C |
| 2009 | 1,160 | -14% | 576 mm | 127 mm | August 26.3°C |
| 2008 | 1,260 | -7% | 491 mm | 136 mm | July 27.7°C |
| 2007 | 1,470 | +9% | 456 mm | 131 mm | August 27.3°C |
| 2006 | 1,270 | -6% | 738 mm | 200 mm | July 28.4°C |
| 2005 | 1,460 | +8% | 568 mm | 189 mm | July 29.1°C |
| 2004 | 1,260 | -6% | 668 mm | 170 mm | July 25.3°C |
| 2003 | 1,200 | -11% | 682 mm | 189 mm | August 27.2°C |
| 2002 | 1,330 | -2% | 567 mm | 171 mm | July 28.1°C |
| 2001 | 1,320 | -2% | 432 mm | 162 mm | August 28.6°C |
| 2000 | 1,160 | -14% | 620 mm | 147 mm | August 25.0°C |
| 1991–2020 | 1,350 | ±10% (1 SD) | 569 mm | 157 mm |
The closest matches on this site by normal heat and season rain. Similar weather is one ingredient; soils, slopes and grapes differ.
