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Australia. Growing season October–April, harvest usually March–April. 26 vintages of weather, 2000–2025.
Photo: Henry Burrows, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Over the 30 growing seasons from 1991 to 2020, Yarra Valley's vines saw on average 1,560 growing degree days between October and April. That puts it in Winkler region II, close in heat and rain to Bordeaux, Douro Valley and Hawke's Bay. In a typical year about 484 mm of rain falls in the growing season, 127 mm of it in March–April.
Since 2000 the warmest season was 2025 (+22% against normal) and the coolest 2002 (-18%). The wettest harvest window was 2020, with 236 mm against a normal 127 mm.
The last 10 vintages (2016–2025) averaged +8% against the 1991–2020 normal, compared with -1% for 2000–2009; 7 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 (1,560 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, 484 mm.
Oct 2024–Apr 2025
Much warmer
Hot months: Nov +2.0° Dec +2.0° Mar +2.9° Apr +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 III
Oct 2023–Apr 2024
Warmer
Hot months: Mar +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 12 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Oct 2022–Apr 2023
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
Oct 2021–Apr 2022
Warmer
Hot months: Jan +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 9 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Oct 2020–Apr 2021
Cooler
Hot months: Nov +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 22 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Oct 2019–Apr 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 21 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Oct 2018–Apr 2019
Much warmer
Hot months: Dec +2.0° Jan +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 3 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Oct 2017–Apr 2018
Much warmer
Hot months: Nov +3.1° Apr +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 4 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Oct 2016–Apr 2017
Warmer
Hot months: Mar +3.5°
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
Oct 2015–Apr 2016
Much warmer
Hot months: Oct +4.9° Dec +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 2 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Oct 2014–Apr 2015
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
Oct 2013–Apr 2014
Warmer
Hot months: Feb +2.0°
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
Oct 2012–Apr 2013
Much warmer
Hot months: Feb +2.4° Mar +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 6 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Oct 2011–Apr 2012
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
Oct 2010–Apr 2011
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 II
Oct 2009–Apr 2010
Much warmer
Hot months: Nov +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 5 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Oct 2008–Apr 2009
Near normal
Hot months: Jan +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 18 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Oct 2007–Apr 2008
Warmer
Hot months: Mar +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 III
Oct 2006–Apr 2007
Much warmer
Hot months: Feb +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 7 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
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 14 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Oct 2004–Apr 2005
Cooler
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 24 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Oct 2003–Apr 2004
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
Oct 2002–Apr 2003
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 II
Oct 2001–Apr 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 I
Oct 2000–Apr 2001
Warmer
Hot months: Jan +2.4° Feb +2.0°
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
Oct 1999–Apr 2000
Near normal
Hot months: Feb +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 19 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
| Vintage | GDD | vs normal | Season rain | Harvest rain | Hottest month (mean high) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,910 | +22% | 364 mm | 84 mm | February 29.1°C |
| 2024 | 1,630 | +4% | 529 mm | 106 mm | February 28.0°C |
| 2023 | 1,500 | -4% | 719 mm | 202 mm | January 27.6°C |
| 2022 | 1,650 | +6% | 518 mm | 151 mm | January 29.3°C |
| 2021 | 1,520 | -3% | 524 mm | 112 mm | January 25.8°C |
| 2020 | 1,520 | -3% | 629 mm | 236 mm | January 27.1°C |
| 2019 | 1,820 | +16% | 345 mm | 77 mm | January 30.8°C |
| 2018 | 1,820 | +16% | 439 mm | 58 mm | January 28.4°C |
| 2017 | 1,630 | +4% | 530 mm | 183 mm | March 28.5°C |
| 2016 | 1,900 | +22% | 354 mm | 101 mm | December 28.0°C |
| 2015 | 1,600 | +2% | 430 mm | 131 mm | February 28.4°C |
| 2014 | 1,640 | +5% | 477 mm | 182 mm | February 29.2°C |
| 2013 | 1,710 | +9% | 338 mm | 91 mm | February 29.6°C |
| 2012 | 1,600 | +3% | 602 mm | 141 mm | January 26.9°C |
| 2011 | 1,530 | -2% | 776 mm | 165 mm | January 26.9°C |
| 2010 | 1,800 | +15% | 492 mm | 174 mm | February 28.6°C |
| 2009 | 1,560 | -0% | 398 mm | 156 mm | January 29.4°C |
| 2008 | 1,690 | +8% | 392 mm | 61 mm | January 28.4°C |
| 2007 | 1,700 | +9% | 290 mm | 108 mm | February 30.3°C |
| 2006 | 1,620 | +4% | 492 mm | 141 mm | January 28.3°C |
| 2005 | 1,480 | -5% | 532 mm | 64 mm | January 26.0°C |
| 2004 | 1,430 | -9% | 443 mm | 104 mm | February 26.9°C |
| 2003 | 1,560 | -0% | 329 mm | 122 mm | January 27.4°C |
| 2002 | 1,280 | -18% | 504 mm | 100 mm | January 25.1°C |
| 2001 | 1,640 | +5% | 518 mm | 196 mm | January 29.4°C |
| 2000 | 1,540 | -2% | 433 mm | 98 mm | February 30.1°C |
| 1991–2020 | 1,560 | ±10% (1 SD) | 484 mm | 127 mm |
The closest matches on this site by normal heat and season rain. Similar weather is one ingredient; soils, slopes and grapes differ.
