2019
A cool comeback year with surprises—across much of the wine world, 2019 delivered structured, age-worthy wines with smaller yields and intense concentration.
🗓️ Historic Moments
🌍 Greta Thunberg sails across the Atlantic to speak at the UN
🔥 Amazon rainforest fires draw global attention to deforestation
🦠 COVID-19 begins to spread silently in late 2019
🇭🇰 Hong Kong protests escalate into international headlines
🎬 Parasite wins the Palme d'Or, making global waves
🎮 Fortnite World Cup awards $30M in prizes
🚀 First image of a black hole released by scientists
🇫🇷 Bordeaux (2019)
🌡️ Temperature Summary: Warm Maritime | 70–88°F (21–31°C) avg daytime highs
Weather Summary: A mild winter and warm spring led into a dry, hot summer with late rains that helped rebalance freshness.
Challenges/Highlights: Drought pressure, small berries, and mildew in early season—but ultimately excellent ripening.
Harvest Window: Mid-September to mid-October
Reception & Scores: Classic in style; powerful yet fresh. Many Left and Right Bank wines scored 95–100 points.
Aging Potential: Strong aging promise; structured and refined, especially in top communes
🇫🇷 Burgundy (2019)
🌡️ Temperature Summary: Warm Continental | 68–86°F (20–30°C) avg daytime highs
Weather Summary: Early budbreak, then a hot, dry summer led to reduced yields but concentrated fruit.
Challenges/Highlights: Frost, sunburn, and drought stress; low yields but high quality
Harvest Window: Early to mid-September
Reception & Scores: Energetic reds and bright, mineral whites; praised for balance and intensity
Aging Potential: Excellent—age-worthy reds and vibrant whites
🇫🇷 Rhône Valley (2019)
🌡️ Temperature Summary: Hot Mediterranean | 75–95°F (24–35°C) avg daytime highs
Weather Summary: Very hot and dry with some drought issues, especially in the south
Challenges/Highlights: Lower yields, thick skins, and deeply colored wines; Syrah and Grenache both performed well
Harvest Window: Late August to mid-September
Reception & Scores: Ripe, bold, and powerful; excellent aging potential for both North and South Rhône
Aging Potential: Long-lived, especially Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage, and Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
🇫🇷 Champagne (2019)
🌡️ Temperature Summary: Cool Continental | 64–80°F (18–27°C) avg daytime highs
Weather Summary: Warm and dry with ideal flowering and a healthy harvest
Challenges/Highlights: Dry spell limited yields, but phenolic ripeness and acidity were well balanced
Harvest Window: Early September
Reception & Scores: Promising, with freshness and fruit—possible future vintage releases
Aging Potential: Solid base wines for vintage and reserve bottlings
🇮🇹 Piedmont (2019)
🌡️ Temperature Summary: Moderate Continental | 68–84°F (20–29°C) avg daytime highs
Weather Summary: Variable spring with summer heat and late rains that helped restore balance
Challenges/Highlights: Nebbiolo ripened slowly and beautifully; low disease pressure
Harvest Window: Mid to late October
Reception & Scores: Powerful, aromatic Barolos and Barbarescos
Aging Potential: Excellent; built to age with high structure and acidity
🇮🇹 Tuscany (2019)
🌡️ Temperature Summary: Warm Mediterranean | 75–90°F (24–32°C) avg daytime highs
Weather Summary: Moderate spring, hot summer, and September rains refreshed vines
Challenges/Highlights: Balanced growing season with solid phenolic development
Harvest Window: Late September to early October
Reception & Scores: Elegant, structured wines; Brunello especially promising
Aging Potential: Strong for both Chianti Classico and Brunello
🇪🇸 Rioja & Ribera del Duero (2019)
🌡️ Temperature Summary: Warm Continental | 72–92°F (22–33°C) avg daytime highs
Weather Summary: Warm and dry, ideal for ripening with little disease
Challenges/Highlights: Healthy fruit, intense color, and great concentration
Harvest Window: Late September through October
Reception & Scores: Modern, plush style with good typicity
Aging Potential: Solid for both Crianza and Reserva levels
🇩🇪 Mosel (2019)
🌡️ Temperature Summary: Cool Continental | 60–77°F (16–25°C) avg daytime highs
Weather Summary: A cool start followed by a hot, dry summer with excellent ripening
Challenges/Highlights: Tiny yields, but electric acidity and purity in Riesling
Harvest Window: Late September to early October
Reception & Scores: Outstanding—many call it a “classic Mosel” year
Aging Potential: Very long-lived; high acid + balance = cellar gems
🇺🇸 Napa Valley (2019)
🌡️ Temperature Summary: Warm Mediterranean | 78–94°F (26–34°C) avg daytime highs
Weather Summary: A cool start and long hang time made for a classic season
Challenges/Highlights: No major heat spikes or fire issues; well-balanced fruit
Harvest Window: Late September to late October
Reception & Scores: Highly rated across AVAs—structured and elegant
Aging Potential: Excellent—long-lived with purity and depth
🇺🇸 Sonoma (2019)
🌡️ Temperature Summary: Moderate Mediterranean | 72–88°F (22–31°C) avg daytime highs
Weather Summary: Steady weather with no extreme heat or rain
Challenges/Highlights: Small berries and long growing season brought complexity
Harvest Window: September to October
Reception & Scores: One of Sonoma’s best recent vintages
Aging Potential: Very good; balanced reds and fresh whites
🇺🇸 Willamette Valley (2019)
🌡️ Temperature Summary: Cool Maritime | 65–82°F (18–28°C) avg daytime highs
Weather Summary: A cooler, wetter vintage that brought a return to classic Oregon conditions after several warm years.
Challenges/Highlights: Spring was slow and flowering uneven, leading to lower yields. September rains raised concerns, but a dry October saved the vintage for patient growers.
Harvest Window: Early to late October
Reception & Scores: Fresh, vibrant, and lower in alcohol—critics praised the elegance, red fruit, and acidity of Pinot Noir.
Aging Potential: Moderate to long; not as powerful as 2018, but highly age-worthy for producers who picked late and sorted carefully. Stylistically ideal for fans of old-world finesse.
🇺🇸 Washington State (2019)
🌡️ Temperature Summary: Warm Continental | 72–92°F (22–33°C) avg daytime highs
Weather Summary: A cooler, slower vintage after a string of hot years
Challenges/Highlights: Delayed ripening, lower alcohol, and high natural acidity
Harvest Window: Late September to early November
Reception & Scores: Refreshing, structured, and expressive—excellent for age
Aging Potential: Very good; especially strong for Cabernet and Syrah
🇦🇺 Barossa Valley (2019)
🌡️ Temperature Summary: Hot Continental | 85–100°F (29–38°C) avg daytime highs
Weather Summary: Very hot and dry; lowest yields in years
Challenges/Highlights: Tiny crop, but intensely concentrated Shiraz
Harvest Window: February to March
Reception & Scores: Bold and powerful; a classic Barossa expression
Aging Potential: Long-term cellar potential for top reds
🇿🇦 South Africa (2019)
🌡️ Temperature Summary: Warm Mediterranean | 75–93°F (24–34°C) avg daytime highs
Weather Summary: Slightly cooler with steady conditions
Challenges/Highlights: Drought persisted but yields and quality improved over 2018
Harvest Window: January to March
Reception & Scores: Crisp whites and elegant reds, particularly from Stellenbosch
Aging Potential: Medium to long, depending on varietal
🇦🇷 Argentina (2019)
🌡️ Temperature Summary: High Desert Continental | 80–96°F (27–36°C) avg daytime highs
Weather Summary: Warm and dry with no major climatic issues
Challenges/Highlights: Excellent fruit health and ripeness
Harvest Window: March to April
Reception & Scores: Bright, floral Malbecs with freshness and spice
Aging Potential: Medium to long—balanced tannins and vibrant fruit
🇨🇱 Chile - Maipo Valley (2019)
🌡️ Temperature Summary: Warm Mediterranean | 75–91°F (24–33°C) avg daytime highs
Weather Summary: Warm days, cool nights = ideal for Cab
Challenges/Highlights: Low yields = concentration; high color and aromatic lift
Harvest Window: March
Reception & Scores: Excellent quality, especially for Cabernet Sauvignon
Aging Potential: Strong mid- to long-term cellaring
