Regions › Oceania › New Zealand
New Zealand. Growing season October–April, harvest usually March–April. 26 vintages of weather, 2000–2025.
Photo: Jonathan Harker, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Over the 30 growing seasons from 1991 to 2020, Marlborough's vines saw on average 1,240 growing degree days between October and April. That puts it in Winkler region I, close in heat and rain to Champagne, Rheingau and Alsace. In a typical year about 420 mm of rain falls in the growing season, 119 mm of it in March–April.
Since 2000 the warmest season was 2018 (+17% against normal) and the coolest 2012 (-11%). The wettest harvest window was 2017, with 256 mm against a normal 119 mm.
The last 10 vintages (2016–2025) averaged +9% against the 1991–2020 normal, compared with -0% for 2000–2009; 9 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 (1,240 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 (March–April). The line is the normal season total, 420 mm.
Oct 2024–Apr 2025
Much warmer
Hot months: Dec +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 5 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2023–Apr 2024
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 7 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2022–Apr 2023
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 10 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2021–Apr 2022
Much 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 4 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2020–Apr 2021
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
Oct 2019–Apr 2020
Warmer
Hot months: Nov +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 9 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2018–Apr 2019
Much warmer
Hot months: Jan +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 2 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Oct 2017–Apr 2018
Much warmer
Hot months: Dec +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 1 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Oct 2016–Apr 2017
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 15 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2015–Apr 2016
Much 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 3 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Oct 2014–Apr 2015
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 I
Oct 2013–Apr 2014
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 11 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2012–Apr 2013
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 I
Oct 2011–Apr 2012
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
Oct 2010–Apr 2011
Warmer
Hot months: Nov +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 8 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2009–Apr 2010
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
Oct 2008–Apr 2009
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
Oct 2007–Apr 2008
Much 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 6 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2006–Apr 2007
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 21 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2005–Apr 2006
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 13 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2004–Apr 2005
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 I
Oct 2003–Apr 2004
Cooler
Hot months: Jan +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 24 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2002–Apr 2003
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
Oct 2001–Apr 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 16 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2000–Apr 2001
Near normal
Hot months: Feb +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 20 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 1999–Apr 2000
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
| Vintage | GDD | vs normal | Season rain | Harvest rain | Hottest month (mean high) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,360 | +10% | 470 mm | 200 mm | December 24.8°C |
| 2024 | 1,320 | +6% | 291 mm | 117 mm | January 25.2°C |
| 2023 | 1,310 | +5% | 473 mm | 160 mm | February 23.4°C |
| 2022 | 1,390 | +12% | 462 mm | 75 mm | January 24.6°C |
| 2021 | 1,270 | +3% | 386 mm | 128 mm | January 24.4°C |
| 2020 | 1,320 | +6% | 342 mm | 74 mm | February 25.2°C |
| 2019 | 1,400 | +13% | 384 mm | 140 mm | January 27.1°C |
| 2018 | 1,460 | +17% | 513 mm | 149 mm | January 25.9°C |
| 2017 | 1,280 | +3% | 612 mm | 256 mm | February 23.6°C |
| 2016 | 1,390 | +12% | 363 mm | 81 mm | February 25.6°C |
| 2015 | 1,300 | +5% | 331 mm | 159 mm | January 25.4°C |
| 2014 | 1,300 | +5% | 556 mm | 255 mm | February 23.7°C |
| 2013 | 1,280 | +3% | 431 mm | 160 mm | January 24.5°C |
| 2012 | 1,100 | -11% | 530 mm | 109 mm | January 23.3°C |
| 2011 | 1,320 | +6% | 410 mm | 154 mm | February 25.0°C |
| 2010 | 1,260 | +2% | 321 mm | 54 mm | February 25.1°C |
| 2009 | 1,240 | -0% | 424 mm | 80 mm | January 25.6°C |
| 2008 | 1,360 | +9% | 417 mm | 151 mm | January 25.8°C |
| 2007 | 1,220 | -2% | 421 mm | 85 mm | March 24.1°C |
| 2006 | 1,290 | +4% | 378 mm | 141 mm | January 24.6°C |
| 2005 | 1,200 | -4% | 422 mm | 106 mm | February 25.3°C |
| 2004 | 1,190 | -4% | 444 mm | 82 mm | January 26.3°C |
| 2003 | 1,170 | -6% | 293 mm | 54 mm | January 23.8°C |
| 2002 | 1,280 | +3% | 471 mm | 43 mm | March 23.4°C |
| 2001 | 1,230 | -1% | 243 mm | 52 mm | February 26.1°C |
| 2000 | 1,200 | -3% | 501 mm | 148 mm | February 23.9°C |
| 1991–2020 | 1,240 | ±9% (1 SD) | 420 mm | 119 mm |
The closest matches on this site by normal heat and season rain. Similar weather is one ingredient; soils, slopes and grapes differ.
