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Spain. Growing season April–October, harvest usually September–October. 26 vintages of weather, 2000–2025.
Photo: Josep Renalias, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Over the 30 growing seasons from 1991 to 2020, Rioja's vines saw on average 1,700 growing degree days between April and October. That puts it in Winkler region III, close in heat and rain to Ribera del Duero, Sonoma County and Colchagua Valley. In a typical year about 247 mm of rain falls in the growing season, 72 mm of it in September–October.
Since 2000 the warmest season was 2022 (+28% against normal) and the coolest 2002 (-11%). The wettest harvest window was 2024, with 154 mm against a normal 72 mm.
The last 10 vintages (2016–2025) averaged +13% against the 1991–2020 normal, compared with +1% for 2000–2009; 9 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 (1,700 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, 247 mm.
Apr–Oct 2025
Much warmer
Hot months: Apr +2.0° Jun +5.3° Aug +3.7° Oct +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 3 of 26 for heat · Winkler IV
Apr–Oct 2024
Much warmer
Hot months: Jul +3.7° Aug +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 10 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Apr–Oct 2023
Much warmer
Hot months: Apr +4.4° Jul +2.4° Aug +3.4° Sep +2.9° Oct +4.1°
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 2022
Much warmer
Hot months: May +3.8° Jun +4.3° Jul +4.5° Aug +3.8° Oct +5.5°
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 IV
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 18 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Apr–Oct 2020
Much warmer
Hot months: May +3.3° Jul +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 9 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Apr–Oct 2019
Warmer
Hot months: Jun +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 III
Apr–Oct 2018
Warmer
Hot months: 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 13 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Apr–Oct 2017
Much warmer
Hot months: Apr +2.2° May +3.6° Jun +3.2° Oct +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 4 of 26 for heat · Winkler IV
Apr–Oct 2016
Warmer
Hot months: Sep +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 16 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Apr–Oct 2015
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 12 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Apr–Oct 2014
Much warmer
Hot months: Apr +3.0° Sep +2.9° Oct +4.5°
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 2013
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 2012
Warmer
Hot months: Jun +2.2° Aug +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 17 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Apr–Oct 2011
Much warmer
Hot months: Apr +3.3° May +2.3° Sep +2.8° 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 8 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
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 23 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Apr–Oct 2009
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 15 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
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 24 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
Apr–Oct 2007
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 2006
Much warmer
Hot months: Sep +2.5° 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 5 of 26 for heat · Winkler IV
Apr–Oct 2005
Warmer
Hot months: Jun +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 14 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
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 19 of 26 for heat · Winkler III
Apr–Oct 2003
Much warmer
Hot months: Jun +3.6° Aug +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 III
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 II
Apr–Oct 2001
Near normal
Hot months: Oct +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 20 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
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 21 of 26 for heat · Winkler II
| Vintage | GDD | vs normal | Season rain | Harvest rain | Hottest month (mean high) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,030 | +19% | 211 mm | 37 mm | August 33.1°C |
| 2024 | 1,850 | +9% | 322 mm | 154 mm | July 33.0°C |
| 2023 | 2,170 | +28% | 269 mm | 106 mm | August 32.8°C |
| 2022 | 2,180 | +28% | 167 mm | 42 mm | July 33.8°C |
| 2021 | 1,750 | +3% | 251 mm | 78 mm | August 30.6°C |
| 2020 | 1,870 | +10% | 258 mm | 74 mm | July 31.3°C |
| 2019 | 1,810 | +7% | 277 mm | 79 mm | July 30.5°C |
| 2018 | 1,780 | +5% | 327 mm | 81 mm | August 30.0°C |
| 2017 | 1,970 | +16% | 168 mm | 41 mm | July 30.8°C |
| 2016 | 1,770 | +4% | 175 mm | 38 mm | August 30.9°C |
| 2015 | 1,790 | +5% | 214 mm | 60 mm | July 31.5°C |
| 2014 | 1,900 | +12% | 181 mm | 48 mm | August 29.4°C |
| 2013 | 1,560 | -8% | 276 mm | 60 mm | July 31.0°C |
| 2012 | 1,760 | +3% | 278 mm | 94 mm | August 31.4°C |
| 2011 | 1,900 | +12% | 170 mm | 34 mm | August 30.9°C |
| 2010 | 1,600 | -6% | 228 mm | 62 mm | July 29.8°C |
| 2009 | 1,780 | +5% | 215 mm | 58 mm | July 30.7°C |
| 2008 | 1,570 | -8% | 350 mm | 89 mm | August 29.2°C |
| 2007 | 1,600 | -6% | 227 mm | 55 mm | July 28.8°C |
| 2006 | 1,940 | +14% | 236 mm | 73 mm | July 31.2°C |
| 2005 | 1,780 | +5% | 231 mm | 87 mm | July 30.0°C |
| 2004 | 1,670 | -2% | 241 mm | 68 mm | August 29.0°C |
| 2003 | 1,910 | +12% | 268 mm | 114 mm | August 32.5°C |
| 2002 | 1,510 | -11% | 278 mm | 67 mm | July 27.2°C |
| 2001 | 1,660 | -2% | 172 mm | 39 mm | August 29.9°C |
| 2000 | 1,660 | -2% | 257 mm | 80 mm | August 28.3°C |
| 1991–2020 | 1,700 | ±9% (1 SD) | 247 mm | 72 mm |
The closest matches on this site by normal heat and season rain. Similar weather is one ingredient; soils, slopes and grapes differ.
