What Makes a Great Vintage?
The quality of a wine vintage is shaped by several factors, including:
- Weather Patterns: The best vintages benefit from moderate temperatures, balanced rainfall, and a long ripening season. Extreme heat, drought, or storms can affect grape quality.
- Harvest Conditions: Dry, mild harvest weather allows for optimal ripeness, while rain or sudden cold snaps can dilute flavors and encourage rot.
- Grape Ripeness & Balance: A great vintage balances sugar, acidity, tannins, and phenolic development. Overripe grapes result in flabby wines, while underripe fruit leads to green, astringent flavors.
- Disease & Pest Pressure: Dry conditions minimize mold and pests, whereas excessive rain and humidity can increase disease risks and lower yields.
For a more in depth look at weather’s effect on wine, see What Makes a Good or Poor Vintage
2022 Vintage: A Global Perspective
The 2022 growing season was defined by extreme heat and prolonged drought in many regions, though well-timed rains helped balance some wines. Here’s how key wine regions fared:
France
- Bordeaux: Despite heat and drought, late-summer rains led to structured, age-worthy wines with deep color and concentration.
- Burgundy: Early ripening resulted in ripe, rich wines, though some lacked acidity. Top producers managed freshness well.
- Rhône Valley: A strong vintage, especially for Grenache and Syrah, which developed bold flavors and firm structure.
- Champagne: Despite lower yields due to drought, the wines maintained good acidity and balance.
- Loire Valley: Whites like Sancerre retained freshness despite the heat, while reds (Cabernet Franc) showed concentration and depth.
Italy
- Tuscany: Hot and dry conditions led to structured yet balanced wines in Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and Bolgheri.
- Piedmont: Nebbiolo retained its signature acidity and tannin structure despite the heat, making for an excellent Barolo and Barbaresco vintage.
- Southern Italy: Heat-adapted regions like Sicily produced strong wines with ripe fruit and good balance.
Spain & Portugal
- Ribera del Duero & Rioja: Intense heat required careful vineyard management, but top producers created powerful yet balanced wines.
- Douro Valley: Hot and dry conditions resulted in concentrated wines with excellent aging potential.
United States
- California: A September heatwave pushed early picking, but high-quality wines—especially Cabernet Sauvignon—emerged from Napa and Sonoma.
- Oregon & Washington: Washington saw a strong vintage, whereas Oregon’s Pinot Noir faced challenges from heat spikes.
Southern Hemisphere
- Argentina & Chile: Argentina had excellent Malbec ripeness, while Chile saw a warm but successful vintage.
- Australia: South Australia faced extreme heat, but Margaret River produced outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.
- New Zealand: A cooler year resulted in fresh, elegant wines.
Bordeaux 2022: A Case Study in Heat and Adaptation
Vintage knowledge is so useful when selecting wines, especially when those wines come with investment - not just monetary, but also time, as some benefit from aging. Not all regions benefit from additional irrigation, many in Europe have some of the most stringent regulations on how grapes are grown. Those same wines, from the highly regulated regions, are some of the most coveted wines in the world. Bordeaux, known for its vintage sensitivity, age worthiness, and collectability, struggled with some weather challenges during the 2022 vintage.
Key Weather Challenges
- Dry Winter & Spring: Below-average rainfall meant vines started the season with less water in the soil.
- Early Budbreak: Warm spring temperatures led to early budbreak, increasing frost risk. Fortunately, major damage was avoided.
- Intense Summer Heat Waves: Several heat spikes in June, July, and August stressed vines, requiring strategic irrigation where allowed.
- Late Summer Rainfall: Well-timed rain in late August refreshed vines, preserving acidity and balance.
- Dry Harvest Conditions: September saw dry, warm weather, allowing for optimal ripeness without dilution or rot.
Impact on Bordeaux Wines
The lack of rain early in the growing season and the intense heat resulted in small ripe berries, leading to deeply colored wines with rich fruit and firm tannins. The late season rain helped maintain freshness, preventing overripe flavors. Left Bank Cabernet Sauvignon wines show excellent structure for aging, while Right Bank Merlot-based wines will be accessible sooner.
How Winemakers Are Adapting to Climate Change
With extreme weather becoming more common, winemakers are implementing strategies to maintain wine quality:
- Canopy Management: Adjusting vine canopy structure to provide shade and reduce heat exposure.
- Soil Moisture Conservation: Using cover crops and organic mulches to retain soil moisture and prevent excessive evaporation.
- Drought-Resistant Rootstocks: Planting vines with deeper roots to access underground water sources.
- Earlier Harvesting: Picking grapes earlier to retain acidity and prevent excessive sugar accumulation.
- Winemaking Adjustments: Modifying extraction techniques and adjusting oak aging to balance alcohol and tannin structure in hotter years.
Conclusion: Was 2022 a Good Vintage?
Despite heat and drought challenges, 2022 was a strong vintage across many wine regions. Bordeaux stood out as particularly exceptional, thanks to late-season rainfall and skilled vineyard management. While some regions struggled with overripeness, those that mitigated heat stress successfully produced structured, balanced wines with excellent aging potential.
For wine lovers, the 2022 vintage offers both early-drinking options and long-lived bottles worth cellaring. As climate change continues to impact viticulture, adaptation will be key to maintaining the quality and consistency of future vintages.