Regions › North America › Canada
Canada. Growing season April–October, harvest usually September–October. 26 vintages of weather, 2000–2025.
Photo: M Readey, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Over the 30 growing seasons from 1991 to 2020, Niagara Peninsula's vines saw on average 1,410 growing degree days between April and October. That puts it in Winkler region II, close in heat and rain to Finger Lakes, Hawke's Bay and Burgundy (Côte d'Or). In a typical year about 555 mm of rain falls in the growing season, 151 mm of it in September–October.
Since 2000 the warmest season was 2012 (+18% against normal) and the coolest 2003 (-13%). The wettest harvest window was 2006, with 258 mm against a normal 151 mm.
The last 10 vintages (2016–2025) averaged +3% against the 1991–2020 normal, compared with -1% for 2000–2009; 4 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 (1,410 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, 555 mm.
Apr–Oct 2025
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 11 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Apr–Oct 2024
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 II
Apr–Oct 2023
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 2022
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 14 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Apr–Oct 2021
Much warmer
Hot months: Oct +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 7 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Apr–Oct 2020
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 II
Apr–Oct 2019
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
Apr–Oct 2018
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 8 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Apr–Oct 2017
Near normal
Hot months: Apr +2.2° Oct +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 17 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Apr–Oct 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 5 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Apr–Oct 2015
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 19 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Apr–Oct 2014
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 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 12 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Apr–Oct 2012
Much warmer
Hot months: May +3.8° Jul +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 1 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Apr–Oct 2011
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 II
Apr–Oct 2010
Much warmer
Hot months: Apr +3.2° May +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 2 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 25 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
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 20 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Apr–Oct 2007
Much warmer
Hot months: Oct +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 4 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Apr–Oct 2006
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 II
Apr–Oct 2005
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
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 26 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Apr–Oct 2002
Warmer
Hot months: Jul +2.2° Sep +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 9 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
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 13 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Apr–Oct 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 21 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
| Vintage | GDD | vs normal | Season rain | Harvest rain | Hottest month (mean high) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,430 | +1% | 434 mm | 90 mm | July 28.3°C |
| 2024 | 1,560 | +11% | 577 mm | 119 mm | July 27.2°C |
| 2023 | 1,380 | -2% | 462 mm | 87 mm | July 27.0°C |
| 2022 | 1,400 | -1% | 450 mm | 98 mm | July 26.8°C |
| 2021 | 1,550 | +10% | 655 mm | 226 mm | August 27.6°C |
| 2020 | 1,390 | -1% | 452 mm | 110 mm | July 29.0°C |
| 2019 | 1,320 | -6% | 639 mm | 176 mm | July 27.4°C |
| 2018 | 1,530 | +9% | 605 mm | 193 mm | July 28.1°C |
| 2017 | 1,390 | -2% | 570 mm | 116 mm | July 26.1°C |
| 2016 | 1,570 | +12% | 395 mm | 142 mm | August 28.1°C |
| 2015 | 1,350 | -5% | 545 mm | 149 mm | July 26.0°C |
| 2014 | 1,270 | -10% | 588 mm | 118 mm | July 25.1°C |
| 2013 | 1,430 | +1% | 604 mm | 152 mm | July 27.0°C |
| 2012 | 1,670 | +18% | 525 mm | 218 mm | July 29.8°C |
| 2011 | 1,480 | +5% | 684 mm | 196 mm | July 28.7°C |
| 2010 | 1,590 | +13% | 514 mm | 145 mm | July 28.8°C |
| 2009 | 1,250 | -11% | 622 mm | 120 mm | August 25.8°C |
| 2008 | 1,340 | -5% | 667 mm | 171 mm | July 26.9°C |
| 2007 | 1,580 | +12% | 353 mm | 87 mm | August 27.0°C |
| 2006 | 1,400 | -1% | 667 mm | 258 mm | July 28.1°C |
| 2005 | 1,580 | +12% | 539 mm | 162 mm | July 28.5°C |
| 2004 | 1,330 | -6% | 659 mm | 148 mm | July 25.3°C |
| 2003 | 1,230 | -13% | 561 mm | 140 mm | August 26.5°C |
| 2002 | 1,520 | +8% | 510 mm | 108 mm | July 29.3°C |
| 2001 | 1,410 | +0% | 485 mm | 152 mm | August 27.2°C |
| 2000 | 1,330 | -6% | 553 mm | 105 mm | July 25.3°C |
| 1991–2020 | 1,410 | ±10% (1 SD) | 555 mm | 151 mm |
The closest matches on this site by normal heat and season rain. Similar weather is one ingredient; soils, slopes and grapes differ.
