1999

A sleeper year for classic wine lovers — 1999 rewarded patient producers with age-worthy wines defined by freshness, restraint, and surprising staying power.

🗓️ Historic Moments

  • 🎮 Napster launches, reshaping how we share music

  • 🇺🇸 Y2K panic stirs global tech anxiety

  • 🎬 The Matrix and Fight Club hit theaters

  • 📉 Dot-com bubble reaches fever pitch

  • 🌪️ Deadliest tornado outbreak in U.S. history (OK)

  • 📱 BlackBerry releases its first email pager

  • ✈️ EU creates a single airline market, reshaping aviation

🇫🇷 Bordeaux (1999)

🌡️ Temperature Summary: Maritime | 70–82°F (21–28°C) avg daytime highs

Weather Summary: Damp spring, dry summer, followed by rain during harvest

Challenges/Highlights: Cabernets fared better than Merlot; careful selection required

Harvest Window: Late September to mid-October, with pressure from rain

Reception & Scores: Mixed; top producers excelled with structured wines

Aging Potential: Solid for Left Bank; early to mid-drinking window for most

🇫🇷 Burgundy (1999)

🌡️ Temperature Summary: Continental | 68–80°F (20–27°C) avg daytime highs

Weather Summary: Favorable growing season with a warm, dry August

Challenges/Highlights: Ideal flowering and clean harvest; generous yields

Harvest Window: Early to mid-September

Reception & Scores: Exceptional reds with depth and aging promise

Aging Potential: Long-lived; top wines aging beautifully now

🇫🇷 Rhône Valley (1999)

North 🌡️ Temperature Summary: Continental | 75–88°F (24–31°C) avg daytime highs

South 🌡️ Temperature Summary: Mediterranean | 78–92°F (26–33°C) avg daytime highs

Weather Summary: Classic season with hot, dry summer and ideal fall

Challenges/Highlights: Stellar in Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage; rich Grenache in the south

Harvest Window: September, with perfect ripeness for Syrah

Reception & Scores: Widely praised, especially in the north

Aging Potential: Excellent; a benchmark Northern Rhône vintage

🇫🇷 Champagne (1999)

🌡️ Temperature Summary: Cool Continental | 64–75°F (18–24°C) avg daytime highs

Weather Summary: Warm, sunny season but inconsistent ripening

Challenges/Highlights: High yields, lower acidity; not declared by all houses

Harvest Window: Mid-September

Reception & Scores: Pleasant, forward-drinking style

Aging Potential: Moderate; drink soon if not already

🇮🇹 Piedmont (1999)

🌡️ Temperature Summary: Continental | 70–84°F (21–29°C) avg daytime highs

Weather Summary: Stable and dry with excellent conditions for Nebbiolo

Challenges/Highlights: Classic Barolo/Barbaresco vintage with structure

Harvest Window: Mid to late October

Reception & Scores: Highly regarded, though overshadowed by 1996 and 2001

Aging Potential: Still evolving; top wines have a decade or more

🇮🇹 Tuscany (1999)

🌡️ Temperature Summary: Mediterranean | 75–88°F (24–31°C) avg daytime highs

Weather Summary: Warm and even growing season

Challenges/Highlights: Strong for Sangiovese and Super Tuscans

Harvest Window: September into October

Reception & Scores: Broad acclaim for richness and balance

Aging Potential: Aging gracefully; top bottles still vibrant

🇪🇸 Rioja (1999)

🌡️ Temperature Summary: Continental-Mediterranean | 72–88°F (22–31°C) avg daytime highs

Weather Summary: Cool spring, warm summer, some rain at harvest

Challenges/Highlights: Uneven ripening, lower structure than 1998

Harvest Window: Mid to late October

Reception & Scores: Mixed; better at higher elevations

Aging Potential: Early to mid-term drinkers

🇩🇪 Mosel (1999)

🌡️ Temperature Summary: Cool Continental | 65–78°F (18–26°C) avg daytime highs

Weather Summary: Sunny late season after mixed summer

Challenges/Highlights: Botrytis made for expressive Spätlese and Auslese

Harvest Window: Late September into October

Reception & Scores: Very good for sweeter styles

Aging Potential: Long-lived in higher Prädikat levels

🇺🇸 Napa Valley (1999)

🌡️ Temperature Summary: Warm Mediterranean | 75–92°F (24–33°C) avg daytime highs

Weather Summary: Cool spring and summer with long hang time

Challenges/Highlights: Low yields; wines built for age and structure

Harvest Window: October

Reception & Scores: One of the best late-’90s vintages

Aging Potential: Outstanding; top Cabs are still evolving

🇺🇸 Sonoma (1999)

🌡️ Temperature Summary: Cool to Warm Mediterranean | 70–88°F (21–31°C) avg daytime highs

Weather Summary: Cool and steady with slow ripening

Challenges/Highlights: Strong for Pinot Noir and Cabernet

Harvest Window: September to early October

Reception & Scores: Quality over quantity; focused, ageable wines

Aging Potential: Still vibrant, especially in cooler zones

🇺🇸 Willamette Valley (1999)

🌡️ Temperature Summary: Cool Maritime | 68–82°F (20–28°C) avg daytime highs

Weather Summary: Warm, dry season ending with timely rains

Challenges/Highlights: Excellent Pinot Noir vintage with structure and spice

Harvest Window: Mid to late September

Reception & Scores: One of Oregon’s early classics

Aging Potential: Still showing complexity in top bottles

🇺🇸 Washington State (1999)

🌡️ Temperature Summary: Warm Continental | 72–90°F (22–32°C) avg daytime highs

Weather Summary: Warm year with cool harvest window

Challenges/Highlights: Balanced ripeness and natural acidity

Harvest Window: Mid to late September

Reception & Scores: Solid across the board, especially for reds

Aging Potential: Drinking well now; peak for many

🇦🇺 Australia (1999)

  • Barossa 🌡️ Temperature Summary: Mediterranean | 80–95°F (27–35°C) avg daytime highs

  • Weather Summary: Warm year with excellent ripening in Barossa and McLaren Vale

  • Challenges/Highlights: Classic, rich Shiraz styles

  • Harvest Window: February–March

  • Reception & Scores: Bold, high-scoring wines

  • Aging Potential: Drinking well; top wines aging gracefully