2019 Willamette Valley / Oregon Vintage

A relatively mild early winter in 2018 was followed by a cold and wet second half of winter in 2019, then a wet but warm spring. Despite the cold and snow of February, growing-degree-day charts across the Pacific Northwest were headed toward record territory soon after April 1. Average bud break came on April 16 and average bloom on June 8, and a cool June changed that record pace. The season started warmer than average, with a few mild frosts in late April, then moderated through mid-vintage with fewer than average heat spikes. Near-record precipitation during late June and early July brought increased disease pressure to the North Willamette Valley. The cool character of the vintage came largely from substantially lower maximum temperatures, while minimum temperatures ran near average to slightly above. That was largely the result of higher humidity, which also brought greater disease pressure. August was moderately warm with low heat stress compared with recent years, and it did not bring the broiling string of 100-degree days that characterized the record-hot 2015 vintage. The month was dry in the south and slightly wet in the north. Average veraison came on August 14. As of September 4, 2019, locations in the Willamette, Umpqua, Rogue and Walla Walla valleys were 10 to 25 percent above the 1981 to 2010 normals for April through August, and from the same to 6 percent lower than at the same point in 2018. Average harvest date was September 27. The early rains in September and a rapid cool-down into October challenged harvesting decisions.

• A mild early winter gave way to a cold, wet second half of winter and then a wet but warm spring
• Average bud break April 16 and average bloom June 8; a cool June changed the record early degree-day pace
• The season started warmer than average with a few mild frosts in late April, then moderated with fewer than average heat spikes
• Near-record precipitation in late June and early July brought increased disease pressure to the North Willamette Valley
• The cool character came from substantially lower maximum temperatures, with minimums near average to slightly above, largely the result of higher humidity
• August was moderately warm with low heat stress and no string of 100-degree days; average veraison August 14
• Average harvest date September 27, with early September rains and a rapid cool-down into October challenging harvesting decisions

As of September 4, 2019, Willamette Valley growing-degree-day accumulation for April through August was 10 to 25 percent above the 1981 to 2010 normal, and from the same to 6 percent lower than at the same point in 2018. Degree-day totals for the full season ended up similar to 2012 and 2018, marked by the lowest heat accumulation in September and October since 2007. Phenological timing and interval lengths were similar to 2018.

• Mid-season growing-degree-day tracking ran 10 to 25 percent above the 1981 to 2010 normal for April through August
• At the same date, accumulation was the same to 6 percent lower than at the same point in 2018
• Final degree-day totals ended up similar to 2012 and 2018
• September and October recorded the lowest heat accumulation since 2007
• Phenological timing and interval lengths were similar to 2018

Phenological timing and interval lengths were similar to 2018, and degree-day totals ended up similar to 2012 and 2018. The season's character was cool: lower maximum temperatures, higher humidity, increased disease pressure in early summer, and the lowest September and October heat accumulation since 2007.

• Phenological timing and interval lengths were similar to 2018
• Degree-day totals landed similar to 2012 and 2018
• September and October heat accumulation was the lowest since 2007