2017

A vintage shaped by unpredictability—early frost, scorching heat, and drought defined much of the growing season globally, rewarding attentive viticulture with surprisingly strong results in select regions.

🗓️ Historic Moments

  • 🌊 #MeToo movement goes global, spotlighting gender injustice

  • 🎥 The Shape of Water wins Best Picture at the Oscars

  • 🚀 SpaceX launches Falcon Heavy test payload into orbit

  • 🔥 California wildfires devastate Napa and Sonoma wine country

  • 🇫🇷 Emmanuel Macron elected President of France

  • 🎧 Despacito becomes the most-streamed song in history

  • 📱 iPhone X launches, marking 10 years of iPhone innovation

🇫🇷 Bordeaux (2017)

🌡️ Temperature Summary: Maritime | 75–85°F (24–29°C) avg daytime highs

Weather Summary: Cold spring frost dramatically impacted yields, especially on the Right Bank

Challenges/Highlights: Frost damage led to uneven crop sizes and ripening; best estates managed via meticulous sorting

Harvest Window: Mid-September to early October

Reception & Scores: Considered a heterogeneous vintage—top estates performed well, but quality is variable

Aging Potential: Moderate for most; top wines will age 15–20 years

🇫🇷 Burgundy (2017)

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

Weather Summary: Spring frost and summer hail followed by a warm, dry ripening period

Challenges/Highlights: Frost hit Chablis hard; Côte d’Or had more consistent yields and elegant profiles

Harvest Window: Early to mid-September

Reception & Scores: A return to finesse and terroir transparency; red and white both praised

Aging Potential: Whites: 8–12 years | Reds: 10–20 years

🇫🇷 Rhône Valley (2017)

🌡️ Temperature Summary: Mediterranean | 78–90°F (26–32°C) avg daytime highs

Weather Summary: Hot and dry conditions with reduced yields due to drought and coulure

Challenges/Highlights: Southern Rhône had concentrated Grenache; Northern Rhône showed spice and power

Harvest Window: Late August to mid-September

Reception & Scores: Bold and ripe; particularly strong for Syrah and Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Aging Potential: 10–20 years for top wines

🇫🇷 Champagne (2017)

🌡️ Temperature Summary: Cool Continental | 68–78°F (20–26°C) avg daytime highs

Weather Summary: Cool spring, early mildew pressure, and a warm, fast-paced summer

Challenges/Highlights: Difficult vintage overall with low yields and mixed ripeness

Harvest Window: Late August to early September

Reception & Scores: Less consistent; many producers excluded the vintage from prestige cuvées

Aging Potential: Limited; mostly for early drinking

🇮🇹 Piedmont (2017)

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

Weather Summary: Scorching summer with drought pressure across Barolo and Barbaresco

Challenges/Highlights: Small berries and early harvest led to powerful, concentrated wines

Harvest Window: Late August to early September

Reception & Scores: Structured and rich, though less aromatic than classic years

Aging Potential: 15–25 years for Barolo and Barbaresco

🇮🇹 Tuscany (2017)

🌡️ Temperature Summary: Mediterranean | 80–92°F (27–33°C) avg daytime highs

Weather Summary: Severe spring frost followed by heatwaves and drought

Challenges/Highlights: Tiny yields and firm tannins; high risk of over-extraction

Harvest Window: Mid-September

Reception & Scores: Mixed; quality producers made savory, age-worthy wines

Aging Potential: 10–20 years for best Brunello and Super Tuscans

🇪🇸 Rioja & Ribera del Duero (2017)

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

Weather Summary: Late spring frost and brutal heatwaves in both regions

Challenges/Highlights: Short crops and thick-skinned berries created bold, tannic wines

Harvest Window: September

Reception & Scores: Dense and powerful; requires cellaring to soften

Aging Potential: 15+ years for top Ribera; 10–15 years for structured Rioja

🇩🇪 Mosel (2017)

🌡️ Temperature Summary: Cool Continental | 68–77°F (20–25°C) avg daytime highs

Weather Summary: Cold April frost, wet early summer, but a golden, dry autumn

Challenges/Highlights: Yields were down but quality was high; botrytis affected dessert wines

Harvest Window: September to October

Reception & Scores: Excellent balance of ripeness and acidity; top Auslese and Spätlese vintage

Aging Potential: 15–30 years for Prädikat wines

🇺🇸 Napa Valley (2017)

🌡️ Temperature Summary: Warm Mediterranean | 85–100°F (29–38°C) avg daytime highs

Weather Summary: Heat spikes during harvest and wildfires in October

Challenges/Highlights: Heatwave impacted picking decisions; fires affected air quality but post-harvest

Harvest Window: Late August to late September

Reception & Scores: Concentrated, ripe wines; quality varied widely by site and timing

Aging Potential: 10–20 years depending on producer and site

🇺🇸 Sonoma (2017)

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

Weather Summary: Similar to Napa—heat spikes and devastating wildfires

Challenges/Highlights: Many wines were already in barrel when fires struck; focus on clean lots

Harvest Window: August to early October

Reception & Scores: Strong performance in cooler subregions like Russian River and Sonoma Coast

Aging Potential: 8–15 years

🇺🇸 Willamette Valley (2017)

🌡️ Temperature Summary: Maritime | 75–85°F (24–29°C) avg daytime highs

Weather Summary: Warm summer and early harvest, with smoke risk in some areas

Challenges/Highlights: Generally healthy fruit, though slightly lower acidity

Harvest Window: Late August to mid-September

Reception & Scores: A fruit-forward vintage with early appeal

Aging Potential: 5–12 years

🇺🇸 Washington State (2017)

🌡️ Temperature Summary: Warm Continental | 80–95°F (27–35°C) avg daytime highs

Weather Summary: A cool start gave way to a hot, dry summer with excellent harvest conditions

Challenges/Highlights: Spring rains delayed budbreak, but consistent warmth from July onward allowed full phenolic ripening; minimal disease pressure

Harvest Window: Early September through mid-October

Reception & Scores: Widely praised as a balanced, fruit-driven vintage with vibrant aromatics and moderate alcohols

Aging Potential: 10–15 years for structured reds; early appeal for whites and softer styles

🇦🇺 Barossa Valley & Margaret River (2017)

🌡️ Temperature Summary: Barossa ⎯ Warm Mediterranean | 85–100°F (29–38°C) avg daytime highs

Weather Summary: Wet winter and cool spring slowed the season

Challenges/Highlights: Late harvest in Barossa led to elegant Shiraz; Margaret River shined for Cabernet

Harvest Window: March to April

Reception & Scores: Margaret River Cabernet excellent; Barossa more restrained than usual

Aging Potential: 10–20 years for both regions

🇿🇦 South Africa (2017)

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

Weather Summary: Ongoing drought conditions limited yields

Challenges/Highlights: Excellent fruit intensity; whites kept precision, reds showed polish

Harvest Window: January to March

Reception & Scores: One of the best modern vintages for South African fine wine

Aging Potential: 10–20 years

🇦🇷 Argentina - Mendoza (2017)

🌡️ Temperature Summary: High-Altitude Continental | 77–91°F (25–33°C) avg daytime highs

Weather Summary: Smaller crop due to spring frost, then a warm and dry ripening

Challenges/Highlights: Smaller berries = concentration; altitude vineyards excelled

Harvest Window: Early to mid-April

Reception & Scores: Rich, structured Malbec with great freshness from elevation

Aging Potential: 10–20 years

🇨🇱 Chile - Maipo Valley & Casablanca (2017)

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

Weather Summary: Hot and dry with fires affecting parts of the Central Valley

Challenges/Highlights: Early harvest for whites; reds showed thick skins and firm tannins

Harvest Window: February to April

Reception & Scores: Concentrated, spicy wines; best from coastal-influenced zones

Aging Potential: 8–15 years