Regions › Europe › Italy
Italy. Growing season April–October, harvest usually September–October. 26 vintages of weather, 2000–2025.
Photo: Ilares Riolfi, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Over the 30 growing seasons from 1991 to 2020, Valpolicella's vines saw on average 2,030 growing degree days between April and October. That puts it in Winkler region IV, close in heat and rain to Kakheti, Southern Rhône and Piedmont (Langhe). In a typical year about 563 mm of rain falls in the growing season, 183 mm of it in September–October.
Since 2000 the warmest season was 2022 (+16% against normal) and the coolest 2002 (-8%). The wettest harvest window was 2024, with 382 mm against a normal 183 mm.
The last 10 vintages (2016–2025) averaged +7% against the 1991–2020 normal, compared with +1% 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 (2,030 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, 563 mm.
Apr–Oct 2025
Warmer
Hot months: Jun +3.9°
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 IV
Apr–Oct 2024
Much warmer
Hot months: Aug +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 7 of 26 for heat · Winkler IV
Apr–Oct 2023
Much warmer
Hot months: Sep +3.2° Oct +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 3 of 26 for heat · Winkler V
Apr–Oct 2022
Much warmer
Hot months: Jun +2.9° Jul +3.1° 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 V
Apr–Oct 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 22 of 26 for heat · Winkler IV
Apr–Oct 2020
Warmer
Hot months: Apr +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 IV
Apr–Oct 2019
Much warmer
Hot months: Jun +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 8 of 26 for heat · Winkler IV
Apr–Oct 2018
Much warmer
Hot months: Apr +3.0° Sep +2.1° Oct +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 2 of 26 for heat · Winkler V
Apr–Oct 2017
Warmer
Hot months: Jun +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 11 of 26 for heat · Winkler IV
Apr–Oct 2016
Near normal
Hot months: 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 17 of 26 for heat · Winkler IV
Apr–Oct 2015
Much warmer
Hot months: Jul +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 4 of 26 for heat · Winkler V
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 21 of 26 for heat · Winkler IV
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 19 of 26 for heat · Winkler IV
Apr–Oct 2012
Warmer
Hot months: Aug +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 10 of 26 for heat · Winkler IV
Apr–Oct 2011
Much warmer
Hot months: Apr +3.3° May +2.2° Sep +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 6 of 26 for heat · Winkler IV
Apr–Oct 2010
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 III
Apr–Oct 2009
Much warmer
Hot months: May +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 5 of 26 for heat · Winkler IV
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 18 of 26 for heat · Winkler IV
Apr–Oct 2007
Warmer
Hot months: Apr +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 13 of 26 for heat · Winkler IV
Apr–Oct 2006
Warmer
Hot months: Jul +2.0° 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 14 of 26 for heat · Winkler IV
Apr–Oct 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 24 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
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 23 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Apr–Oct 2003
Warmer
Hot months: May +2.7° Jun +4.2° Aug +3.9°
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 IV
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 26 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Apr–Oct 2001
Near normal
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 20 of 26 for heat · Winkler IV
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 16 of 26 for heat · Winkler IV
| Vintage | GDD | vs normal | Season rain | Harvest rain | Hottest month (mean high) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,130 | +5% | 665 mm | 164 mm | June 31.6°C |
| 2024 | 2,200 | +8% | 878 mm | 382 mm | August 32.7°C |
| 2023 | 2,290 | +13% | 625 mm | 174 mm | July 30.9°C |
| 2022 | 2,360 | +16% | 398 mm | 97 mm | July 33.3°C |
| 2021 | 1,980 | -2% | 528 mm | 109 mm | July 29.7°C |
| 2020 | 2,100 | +3% | 731 mm | 257 mm | July 30.1°C |
| 2019 | 2,200 | +8% | 624 mm | 163 mm | July 31.8°C |
| 2018 | 2,330 | +14% | 579 mm | 164 mm | August 30.9°C |
| 2017 | 2,170 | +7% | 536 mm | 179 mm | August 31.5°C |
| 2016 | 2,080 | +2% | 567 mm | 141 mm | July 31.4°C |
| 2015 | 2,260 | +11% | 456 mm | 195 mm | July 33.9°C |
| 2014 | 2,000 | -1% | 626 mm | 91 mm | June 28.4°C |
| 2013 | 2,030 | -0% | 654 mm | 172 mm | July 30.8°C |
| 2012 | 2,180 | +7% | 560 mm | 193 mm | August 32.4°C |
| 2011 | 2,210 | +8% | 527 mm | 206 mm | August 31.3°C |
| 2010 | 1,900 | -7% | 742 mm | 255 mm | July 30.6°C |
| 2009 | 2,220 | +9% | 421 mm | 109 mm | August 31.6°C |
| 2008 | 2,050 | +1% | 576 mm | 157 mm | July 30.3°C |
| 2007 | 2,110 | +4% | 486 mm | 141 mm | July 31.3°C |
| 2006 | 2,100 | +3% | 430 mm | 139 mm | July 32.2°C |
| 2005 | 1,900 | -6% | 694 mm | 229 mm | July 29.3°C |
| 2004 | 1,930 | -5% | 495 mm | 155 mm | August 29.4°C |
| 2003 | 2,190 | +8% | 361 mm | 136 mm | August 33.7°C |
| 2002 | 1,870 | -8% | 810 mm | 156 mm | July 28.6°C |
| 2001 | 2,010 | -1% | 431 mm | 136 mm | August 30.8°C |
| 2000 | 2,080 | +2% | 606 mm | 290 mm | August 30.3°C |
| 1991–2020 | 2,030 | ±7% (1 SD) | 563 mm | 183 mm |
The closest matches on this site by normal heat and season rain. Similar weather is one ingredient; soils, slopes and grapes differ.
