Vintage Charts

British Columbia                     Download pdf of vintage charts
By Rhys Pender

The 2008 vintage left many winemakers scratching their heads. It started strangely, with budbreak and flowering one to two weeks behind normal, a very cool June, a damp August and it ended quite suddenly with cool temperatures coming very early in October. Harvest was between one and four weeks later than usual. The mixed weather caused many varieties to ripen at the same time, clogging up the presses. Varieties such as pinot gris and pinot noir, usually among the first to be picked, were coming in last. Despite the vagaries of the weather, most of the harvest seems to be of good quality. Those vineyards that reacted early to the delayed start to the season by dropping yields will produce good-quality wine, albeit with naturally high acidity. Those that were greedy will pay the price with diluted wines. Temperatures of -25˚C in mid-December 2008 will likely have caused significant bud damage and may lead to a smaller crop in 2009.

VINTAGE RATINGS (MAX 7*) . NOTES

STATUS
2008    

Not Yet Released (May 2009)

(Tentative) A bizarre vintage of odd weather, with a damp, cool spring, more rain in August and low temperatures from early October. Better growers saw this coming and reduced yields to help speed up ripening and create quality grapes. The grapes typically have high sugars, but also very high acid. White wines will be better, overall.
2007    

Whites - Cellar 5 Years or Less. Reds - Not Yet Released

A difficult, damp vintage, again highlighting the importance of good vineyard management. Lots of rainfall in June and July, and then heat late in the season, which saved the vintage and allowed good quality among growers who weren't greedy with yields. Wines tend to be lighter and leaner in style. Aromatic whites excellent.
2006    

Cellar 5 Years or More

A great vintage for both quality and quantity. The warm weather from spring through to summer allowed more clusters to be kept and a large crop to be produced. Plenty of warmth in the fall allowed even the latest varieties to ripen well. Very good, overall, with red wines a standout, particularly pinot noir.    
           

2005    

Cellar 5 Years or Less

A damp spring led to poor flowering and lower yields in most areas, but a warm, dry summer and fall allowed most whites and the early red varieties to be harvested in perfect conditions. Those who managed yields and extra vigour early were rewarded with quality red grapes before the weather cooled dramatically in mid-October.
2004    

Drink Now

A vintage about quality vineyard management. A warm and wet spring followed by more unseasonal rain fom mid-August until September (August rainfall was 150 per cent above average). Problems with bunch rot for those who didn’t manage the vine canopy. Good quality from the better growers. White wines generally fared better.
2003    

Drink Now or Cellar 5 Years or Less

A very hot year. The excellent potential of this vintage was marred by smoke taint from the savage brush fires in the Okanagan that ruined many grapes. Vineyards that avoided smoke damage produced lush and ripe grapes. Some very big, full reds from the south Okanagan.

2002    

Drink Now or Cellar 5 Years or Less

An excellent vintage with a warm spring and then moderate heat throughout the growing season,
avoiding the heat spikes of 40˚C-plus that can shut down the grapes. A long, warm fall resulted in good quality all around.
2001    

Drink Now or Cellar 5 Years or Less

The first of three excellent vintages. Warm weather at flowering resulted in a large crop and a long, warm summer and fall allowed optimum ripening time for virtually all varieties.
2000    

Drink Now

This vintage saw a promising early start, with warm spring weather before cooler weather hit in June.
August heat and little rainfall saw the grapes catch up and, apart from a couple of cool and wet spells in September, a long Indian summer saw warm October weather and good ripening.
1998    

Drink Now

The first hot vintage that established the quality potential for red wines from B.C. Unusual levels of heat saw rapidly escalating sugar levels and many red wines were excellent. The heat caught some off guard and some white grapes were harvested too late, lacking acid and making flabby wines without longevity. Structured red wines were better, overall.