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Australia. Growing season October–April, harvest usually March–April. 26 vintages of weather, 2000–2025.
Photo: Wikipedian, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Over the 30 growing seasons from 1991 to 2020, McLaren Vale's vines saw on average 1,900 growing degree days between October and April. That puts it in Winkler region III, close in heat and rain to Barossa Valley, Margaret River and Napa Valley. In a typical year about 183 mm of rain falls in the growing season, 60 mm of it in March–April.
Since 2000 the warmest season was 2025 (+14% against normal) and the coolest 2002 (-16%). The wettest harvest window was 2010, with 99 mm against a normal 60 mm.
The last 10 vintages (2016–2025) averaged +3% against the 1991–2020 normal, compared with -0% 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 (1,900 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, 183 mm.
Oct 2024–Apr 2025
Much warmer
Hot months: Mar +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 IV
Oct 2023–Apr 2024
Cooler
Hot months: 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 21 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
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 25 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Oct 2021–Apr 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 20 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Oct 2020–Apr 2021
Near normal
Hot months: Nov +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 19 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Oct 2019–Apr 2020
Near normal
Hot months: Dec +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 18 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Oct 2018–Apr 2019
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 6 of 26 for heat · Winkler IV
Oct 2017–Apr 2018
Much warmer
Hot months: Nov +2.1° Apr +2.8°
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
Oct 2016–Apr 2017
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 III
Oct 2015–Apr 2016
Much warmer
Hot months: Oct +3.1° Dec +3.3°
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
Oct 2014–Apr 2015
Near normal
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 17 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Oct 2013–Apr 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 13 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
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 8 of 26 for heat · Winkler IV
Oct 2011–Apr 2012
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 IV
Oct 2010–Apr 2011
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
Oct 2009–Apr 2010
Much warmer
Hot months: Nov +4.0°
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
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 12 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Oct 2007–Apr 2008
Warmer
Hot months: Mar +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 9 of 26 for heat · Winkler IV
Oct 2006–Apr 2007
Much warmer
Hot months: Feb +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 IV
Oct 2005–Apr 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 III
Oct 2004–Apr 2005
Near normal
Hot months: 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 14 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Oct 2003–Apr 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 III
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 24 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
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 II
Oct 2000–Apr 2001
Warmer
Hot months: Jan +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
Oct 1999–Apr 2000
Near normal
Hot months: Feb +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 11 of 26 for heat · Winkler IV
| Vintage | GDD | vs normal | Season rain | Harvest rain | Hottest month (mean high) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,170 | +14% | 105 mm | 27 mm | February 28.7°C |
| 2024 | 1,830 | -4% | 155 mm | 15 mm | February 27.8°C |
| 2023 | 1,800 | -5% | 291 mm | 86 mm | January 27.1°C |
| 2022 | 1,860 | -2% | 194 mm | 25 mm | January 27.4°C |
| 2021 | 1,870 | -2% | 143 mm | 29 mm | January 26.6°C |
| 2020 | 1,880 | -1% | 186 mm | 87 mm | December 28.1°C |
| 2019 | 2,040 | +8% | 146 mm | 42 mm | January 29.5°C |
| 2018 | 2,140 | +13% | 123 mm | 41 mm | January 28.6°C |
| 2017 | 1,900 | -0% | 260 mm | 70 mm | January 27.8°C |
| 2016 | 2,140 | +13% | 114 mm | 47 mm | December 28.8°C |
| 2015 | 1,880 | -1% | 163 mm | 84 mm | February 28.7°C |
| 2014 | 1,930 | +1% | 158 mm | 56 mm | January 28.2°C |
| 2013 | 2,020 | +6% | 158 mm | 75 mm | February 27.8°C |
| 2012 | 1,990 | +5% | 190 mm | 69 mm | January 27.9°C |
| 2011 | 1,820 | -4% | 245 mm | 58 mm | January 27.4°C |
| 2010 | 2,090 | +10% | 217 mm | 99 mm | February 28.7°C |
| 2009 | 1,930 | +2% | 149 mm | 84 mm | January 28.8°C |
| 2008 | 1,990 | +5% | 167 mm | 65 mm | March 27.8°C |
| 2007 | 2,050 | +8% | 178 mm | 93 mm | February 29.3°C |
| 2006 | 1,900 | +0% | 321 mm | 96 mm | January 28.3°C |
| 2005 | 1,910 | +0% | 140 mm | 23 mm | January 26.8°C |
| 2004 | 1,820 | -4% | 157 mm | 55 mm | February 28.5°C |
| 2003 | 1,810 | -5% | 175 mm | 44 mm | January 27.9°C |
| 2002 | 1,600 | -16% | 166 mm | 32 mm | January 25.3°C |
| 2001 | 2,030 | +7% | 167 mm | 67 mm | January 30.1°C |
| 2000 | 1,950 | +3% | 233 mm | 68 mm | February 29.9°C |
| 1991–2020 | 1,900 | ±7% (1 SD) | 183 mm | 60 mm |
The closest matches on this site by normal heat and season rain. Similar weather is one ingredient; soils, slopes and grapes differ.
