2026 frost, heat, flooding, tiny crop · Frost, Heat spike, Low yield Late frosts, heat and inland flooding met the smallest crush since 2000. 2025 frost-hit whites, dry season · Frost Spring frost and dry conditions cut yields in a red-led rebound year. 2024 small crop, white-led vintage A 9 per cent rebound that was still a small, white-led vintage. 2023 cool, wet, low-yielding, flavoursome · Low yield A third La Nina gave the smallest crush since 2000 and fine flavour. 2022 elegant, structured, high-acid wines · Frost, Harvest rain A cooler La Nina season produced elegant, structured wines and standout dry rieslings. 2021 elegant, high-acid, exceptional wines A cool, stable, disease-free season produced Australia's largest and best harvest yet. 2019 intensely concentrated, deep-colored reds · Drought, Heat spike, Smoke, Frost, Hail, Low yield Extreme heat and drought cut yields but concentrated deep, colored reds. 2018 east-west split, intense colored reds · Frost, Heat spike, Low yield Frost and February heat hurt the east, but the west had one of its best years. 2017 elegant, fresh, high-acid wines A cool, wet, late season produced elegant wines with great natural acidity. 2016 exceptional, concentrated Shiraz and Grenache · Harvest rain El Nino heat and a compressed harvest still delivered a sensational fine wine year. 2015 powerful, deep-colored, cellar-worthy reds · Frost, Smoke, Low yield An early, warm harvest hit by frost and wildfire smoke still delivered excellent reds. 2014 hard-won, balanced, concentrated wines · Frost, Heat spike, Harvest rain, Smoke, Low yield Frost, record heat, and a huge February rain event tested growers, yet quality held. 2013 bold, dark, richly textured wines · Heat spike, Drought A dry, fast-ripening season produced bold reds and richly textured whites early. 2012 concentrated, well-structured reds · Low yield, Harvest rain A cool start and dry, steady summer produced early, concentrated harvests nationwide. 2010 elegant, fully ripe, balanced reds · Heat spike Drought-breaking rain and an even season produced an outstanding, widely praised vintage. 2009 hard-won, restrained cooler-region wines · Heat spike, Smoke, Drought, Low yield Record heat and bushfire smoke made 2009 brutal, but cooler regions found real quality. 2008 split, early-picked and heat-damaged reds · Heat spike, Harvest rain, Hail A brutal mid-harvest heatwave split 2008 into stellar early picks and damaged late ones. 2007 concentrated, deeply colored reds · Drought, Frost, Smoke, Low yield Drought, frost, and smoke taint slashed yields but concentrated deeply colored reds. 2006 intense, refined, structured reds · Low yield A mild season and lower yields produced intense, refined reds across South Australia. 2005 elegant, fruit-forward, structured wines · Heat spike, Harvest rain A cool, steady season and record crush produced elegant, fruit-forward wines. 2004 large-scale, ripe, variable-quality reds · Heat spike, Harvest rain A record-breaking harvest paired with a heatwave and Hunter Valley rain damage. 2003 powerful, concentrated, deeply colored reds · Drought, Harvest rain, Low yield Severe drought cut yields but produced deep, concentrated Shiraz and Cabernet. 2002 elegant, restrained, Rhone-style reds · Low yield One of the coolest seasons on record still produced elegant, restrained wines. 2001 rich, ripe, concentrated reds · Harvest rain A hot summer and a record harvest made 2001 a landmark year for Australian reds. 1999 variable, hard-won, structured reds · Frost, Harvest rain, Botrytis, Hail, Low yield Frost, rain, and disease made 1999 tough, but skilled growers still found quality. 1998 powerful, concentrated, ripe reds · Drought The hottest, driest season since 1910 produced Australia's greatest modern red vintage. 1997 uneven, variable, regionally split · Low yield, Heat spike Wild swings from cold to record heat made 1997 one of Australia's most uneven years. 1996 elegant, dense, balanced reds A cool, late season rewarded patience with elegant, long-lived South Australian reds. 1994 elegant, fruit-forward, lower-alcohol reds · Heat spike A cool, dry summer produced elegant, lower-alcohol reds with real cellaring potential. 1991 powerful, concentrated, textbook reds A warm, dry, early season produced textbook, age-worthy South Australian reds. 1990 powerful, concentrated, structured reds · Harvest rain A hot, dry summer produced one of Australia's greatest red wine vintages ever. 1985 variable, forgettable, uneven year · Harvest rain, Mildew / rot, Hail Heat, drought stress, and a wet March made for an uneven, forgettable year. 1983 concentrated, powerful, robust reds · Drought, Hail, Harvest rain, Low yield Drought, fire, and hail cut yields but concentrated Australia's most powerful reds. 1980 good, firm, robust reds · Heat spike A brutal January heatwave tested growers after an excellent start to the season. 1977 tight, elegant, structured reds Cool, wet conditions made 1977 one of Australia's weakest vintages. 1976 ripe, concentrated, age-worthy reds · Mildew / rot Warm, dry season and early budburst produced concentrated, long-aging reds. 1975 thin, light, uneven reds · Harvest rain Weather extremes and a wet March produced a mostly weak, thin vintage. 1971 structured, ripe, low-alcohol reds · Drought Warm, dry conditions produced Max Schubert's favorite Grange vintage. 1966 ripe, well-structured reds · Low yield Warm season and dry pre-harvest weather gave good, tannic reds despite lower yields. 1962 breakthrough, structured reds Late harvest and rescuing summer rains produced Australia's largest crush of the era. 1955 ripe, concentrated, full-bodied reds Warm, dry harvest conditions produced one of Australia's greatest Grange vintages. 1952 first commercial Grange release Average conditions produced the first commercial release of Penfolds Grange. 1945 Untitled year A wartime vintage overshadowed by export collapse, not weather conditions.