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United States. Growing season April–October, harvest usually September–October. 26 vintages of weather, 2000–2025.
Over the 30 growing seasons from 1991 to 2020, Sonoma County's vines saw on average 1,800 growing degree days between April and October. That puts it in Winkler region III, close in heat and rain to Colchagua Valley, Maipo Valley and Barossa Valley. In a typical year about 149 mm of rain falls in the growing season, 51 mm of it in September–October.
Since 2000 the warmest season was 2020 (+19% against normal) and the coolest 2010 (-13%). The wettest harvest window was 2021, with 229 mm against a normal 51 mm.
The last 10 vintages (2016–2025) averaged +8% against the 1991–2020 normal, compared with -3% for 2000–2009; 6 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 (1,800 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, 149 mm.
Apr–Oct 2025
Near normal
Hot months: May +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 10 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Apr–Oct 2024
Much warmer
Hot months: Jun +2.5° Jul +3.3° Oct +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 2 of 26 for heat · Winkler IV
Apr–Oct 2023
Near normal
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 12 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
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 5 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Apr–Oct 2021
Warmer
Hot months: May +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 8 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Apr–Oct 2020
Much warmer
Hot months: Sep +2.2° Oct +4.4°
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 IV
Apr–Oct 2019
Much warmer
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 4 of 26 for heat · Winkler IV
Apr–Oct 2018
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 III
Apr–Oct 2017
Much 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 3 of 26 for heat · Winkler IV
Apr–Oct 2016
Near normal
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 13 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Apr–Oct 2015
Warmer
Hot months: Oct +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 7 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Apr–Oct 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 6 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Apr–Oct 2013
Near normal
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 16 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Apr–Oct 2012
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 2011
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 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 26 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Apr–Oct 2009
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 III
Apr–Oct 2008
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 III
Apr–Oct 2007
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 II
Apr–Oct 2006
Near normal
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 17 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Apr–Oct 2005
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 2004
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 III
Apr–Oct 2003
Near normal
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 15 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
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 20 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Apr–Oct 2001
Warmer
Hot months: May +5.0°
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 2000
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 III
| Vintage | GDD | vs normal | Season rain | Harvest rain | Hottest month (mean high) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,850 | +3% | 101 mm | 79 mm | August 31.0°C |
| 2024 | 2,080 | +16% | 75 mm | 8 mm | July 33.2°C |
| 2023 | 1,830 | +2% | 71 mm | 23 mm | July 32.0°C |
| 2022 | 1,930 | +8% | 115 mm | 50 mm | August 31.1°C |
| 2021 | 1,860 | +4% | 239 mm | 229 mm | July 30.5°C |
| 2020 | 2,130 | +19% | 78 mm | 0 mm | August 31.6°C |
| 2019 | 1,950 | +9% | 132 mm | 4 mm | August 31.8°C |
| 2018 | 1,830 | +2% | 129 mm | 40 mm | July 30.7°C |
| 2017 | 2,020 | +12% | 118 mm | 14 mm | July 32.1°C |
| 2016 | 1,820 | +2% | 259 mm | 191 mm | July 29.8°C |
| 2015 | 1,900 | +6% | 76 mm | 18 mm | September 30.6°C |
| 2014 | 1,930 | +7% | 96 mm | 54 mm | July 29.6°C |
| 2013 | 1,790 | -1% | 80 mm | 22 mm | July 29.1°C |
| 2012 | 1,650 | -8% | 112 mm | 42 mm | August 29.6°C |
| 2011 | 1,620 | -10% | 174 mm | 65 mm | September 30.7°C |
| 2010 | 1,560 | -13% | 334 mm | 154 mm | September 29.9°C |
| 2009 | 1,730 | -3% | 187 mm | 115 mm | September 30.7°C |
| 2008 | 1,750 | -3% | 55 mm | 39 mm | August 30.0°C |
| 2007 | 1,640 | -9% | 155 mm | 83 mm | July 29.2°C |
| 2006 | 1,780 | -1% | 239 mm | 9 mm | July 32.1°C |
| 2005 | 1,640 | -9% | 200 mm | 14 mm | July 31.2°C |
| 2004 | 1,800 | +0% | 159 mm | 133 mm | September 29.9°C |
| 2003 | 1,790 | -0% | 194 mm | 2 mm | July 31.5°C |
| 2002 | 1,750 | -3% | 46 mm | 2 mm | July 30.6°C |
| 2001 | 1,860 | +3% | 85 mm | 46 mm | August 30.1°C |
| 2000 | 1,760 | -2% | 241 mm | 105 mm | August 30.2°C |
| 1991–2020 | 1,800 | ±7% (1 SD) | 149 mm | 51 mm |
The closest matches on this site by normal heat and season rain. Similar weather is one ingredient; soils, slopes and grapes differ.
