2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005
South Africa's wine regions are extremely diverse. Local conditions vary widely, and grape varieties will respond very differently to vintage conditions, so this vintage chart should be viewed only as a very broad overview - especially where the drinking windows are concerned.
A cold winter, with good rainfall, provided an excellent start, followed by cool and dry conditions in spring and summer. Some regions have only just completed harvest at the time of writing, but early indications suggest a spectacular vintage for South Africa.
An excellent, if not particularly cold, winter - although heavy floods caused problems in some areas. It was ultimately a rushed season, late-budding and early-ripening, as summer was very warm and dry. Lovely, pretty wines in most regions (especially Hemel-en-Aarde) which will drink well on release.
Very difficult, despite early promise - early bud-break was followed by a cool, wet summer which prolonged ripening; then heat-spikes at harvest time followed by unseasonal rains in March were a disaster for late-ripening varieties and for producers who like to wait for extra ripeness. Early-ripening varieties, and producers who tend to harvest early anyway, produced beautiful wines - this is a particularly excellent vintage for whites.
An excellent winter and a wet spring was followed by intense heat in the summer months, resulting in a heterogenous vintage - some producers saw big yields, but overall the vintage was smaller than 2021. Stellenbosch and Walker Bay had an excellent vintage, but the heat in the Swartland was problematic. Overall, the vintage favoured red wines; whites, while decent, are not at their best from most regions. An early-drinking vintage, best before 2040.
A cool growing season, which also saw the replenishment of water-resources, resulted in a late harvest, allowing for optimal ripeness and exceptional quality - and a larger crop (with the notable exception of Stellenbosch), which presented challenges to producers who were still faced with intermittent bans on the local sale of alcohol. Excellent wines, which will drink well on release due to their elegance, but will age well up to 2045 and beyond.
A suitably cold winter and a heatwave-free summer (with very welcome rain in some areas) provided ideal conditions for an exceptional vintage, and despite government lockdowns and a short-lived ban on activities related to the production of alcohol near harvest-time, excellent wines have been produced, especially in the coastal regions and Stellenbosch. Long-lived wines; drink 2021-2045.
At last the rain fell, but the stress from the prior three years of drought remained, and the 2019 vintage was even smaller than the 2018. Inconsistent weather throughout the summer and cool conditions at the end of the harvest added to the challenge, as did major wildfires in important areas like Walker Bay. A complicated vintage, which produced some excellent white wines in particular. Drink 2020-2035.
A third year of drought was compounded in some areas by spring frosts, resulting in a very small harvest. Some especially venerable vineyards died due to the harsh conditions; but as an upside there was almost no disease-pressure, and small, concentrated berries resulted in powerful, expressive wines. Red wines from this year are particularly promising, in a powerful style. Drink 2020-2040.
A second year of drought found producers far better-prepared, and despite the challenging conditions (moderated by a cooler, albeit still very dry, summer) the vintage produced excellent results in both red and white. The wines are concentrated, yet retain balance and complexity, and good structure for the longer term. Drink 2018-2040.
A challenging vintage, the first in a series of drought-afflicted years, and the hot, dry conditions tested viticulturalists. White wines, especially Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay, are structured and concentrated; reds however lack acidity and are best approached relatively early. Drink 2018-2028.
A cold, wet winter, followed by a warm, dry, windy summer and dry weather at harvest time without the usual heatwaves; ideal conditions across the country. An exceptional vintage, with excellent potential for both whites and reds. Drink 2018-2035.
A wet, cool growing season was followed by warm weather at harvest time, causing rapid ripening for whites, but more heat-resistant red varieties fared well. A solid, if unspectacular, vintage, best in the medium term. Drink 2015-2025.
The rains returned, a welcome relief after two dry years, providing a bumper crop. Humidity caused a few problems, and results for the vintage are variable, but the reds in particular are impressive. Drink 2014-2028.
Cool and dry, and quite consistent, despite some strain on the vineyards from late-season heat-spikes and disease-pressure. Whites fared particularly well. Drink 2013-2026.
A very dry winter and a windy spring, which brought water-stress and limited yields; harvest temperatures reached 37C, but the winds tempered the effects of the sun to bring about even ripening. A consistent, if not spectacular vintage, with good promise for the future. Drink 2013-2026.
A wet winter was followed by a particularly hot summer, which extended into the harvest period. Disease pressure and heat limited yields; an inconsistent vintage. Drink 2012-2025.
Exceptional vintage for both white and red, with rain in the spring, heat in the summer and a cool, dry harvest period which allowed the grapes to ripen gradually. Wildfires in some areas were the only issue; wines from this year are consistently excellent. Drink 2012-2034.
A complicated growing season, cool with intermittent heat spikes, which required careful vineyard-management; resulted in lighter-bodied wines. Particularly good for Walker Bay and other cool regions; elegant white wines have a excellent potential, but Bordeaux and Rhone varieties struggled. Drink whites and Pinot Noir 2010-2028, other reds may begin to fade by 2025.
A cool growing season produced some disease-pressure, and a heatwave at the start of the harvest made this a difficult year for Pinotage and Pinot Noir, but later-ripening varieties like Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz all benefitted. Drink 2009-2022.
Dominated by inclement weather which put pressure on the vines, reducing yields and producing concentrated flavours and exceptional potential. Drink from 2009-2026.
A dry winter was followed by scorching heat in the beginning of the year, then rainfall at harvest time. Reds fared much better than whites, but the vintage is inconsistent. Drink 2006-2020.
