2024

From Deluge to Determination: Will Bordeaux vintage 2024 Surprise Collectors Despite Its Toughest Year?

The 2024 Bordeaux vintage presented a series of significant challenges, primarily due to adverse weather conditions. The year was marked by unseasonably wet and cool weather, leading to an overabundance of rainfall—approximately double the annual average of 923mm. This excessive moisture created a conducive environment for mildew outbreak...

The 2024 Bordeaux vintage!

Winegrowers in Bordeaux had a particularly difficult time in the 2024 growing season. The region experienced a series of climatic adversities, including heatwaves, dry spells, heavy rainfall and hailstorms. As in previous years, these conditions put the resilience of both the vines and the winegrowers to the test. As a result of the difficult conditions, both economically and climatically, the French Ministry of Agriculture has reported a drastic drop in production compared to previous years.  The early start to the harvest in some areas due to global warming has further complicated the situation, with grapes ripening faster and the harvest starting earlier than usual. The unpredictable weather conditions caused additional problems such as uneven ripening and the risk of disease, which required meticulous attention from winegrowers to ensure the quality of the fruit.

In addition to the climatic challenges, winegrowers had to contend with labor shortages and logistical hurdles.  The ongoing impact of the pandemic has made it difficult to find enough skilled labor for the important tasks of pruning, harvesting and sorting. The labor-intensive nature of vineyard work means that any shortage of labor can significantly impact the efficiency and thoroughness of the harvest. Despite these challenges, the determination and expertise of Bordeaux winegrowers has won out as they have adapted their techniques and strategies to protect their harvest and maintain quality.

Despite these difficulties, there is a sense of optimism among the winegrowers. The extreme weather conditions, while challenging, have given the grapes remarkable character and depth. The lower yields mean that each grape has received more attention and care, potentially resulting in wines with greater concentration and complexity.  The for Bordeauxunusual late Start the Red wine harvest leaves on a excellent Ageing potential the Wines close. The unique Conditions thisYear have also to different Flavor profiles guided. First Reports interpret on a balanced Ratio from Acid and Tanninstowards, the Wine lovers and –collector inspire should.
First Tastings have shown, that the White wines this Vintage one lively Acid and Freshness exhibit, the the coolerTemperatures and the early Maturity reflect. The red wines are expected to have a deep, rich color, intense aromas and the potential for longevity. The diversity of terroirs in Bordeaux means that each sub-region has contributed its own characteristics to the overall vintage, resulting in a mosaic of flavors and aromas that reflect the uniqueness of the 2024 vintage.

2024: A Classic Vintage for Napa Valley

As the 2024 growing season draws to a close, Napa Valley growers and winemakers are reflecting on another noteworthy harvest. Described as dynamic and rich in flavor, the 2024 vintage promises to deliver quality wines that capture the unique character of Napa Valley, blending boldness with elegance.

In terms of what this vintage will be remembered for, winemakers have been consistent in their assessment. It was a textbook year for winemaking, yet it was unusual for the numerous days of heat during the growing season. Key to the success of the vintage was heavy winter rains that set the vines up for success.

Vintage Quality

Everything came in as expected. “It was a vintage where you didn’t have to stress as a winemaker,” said Richie Allen, director of winemaking for Rombauer Vineyards. “I’ve only had a couple of vintages like that in Napa.”

Alison Rodriguez, winemaker at Silverado Vineyards said her wines had “early, quick and easy fermentations with great density of flavors” and that they were “pretty stunning coming right out of the fermenters!”

When asked how winemakers are feeling about the wines Julie Robertson, winemaker at Crocker & Starr Wines said she’s seeing “great color, great flavor, great extract and tired but happy people!” and Nate Weis, vice president of winegrowing at Silver Oak said, “it’s going to be another very good vintage for Napa Valley.”

So, how will the wines age? According to Dante West, winemaker at Amici Cellars, the “wines will have a long life, but lots of plushness and richness that will allow for those who like young wines to enjoy them upon release.”

“The stars are aligning that it’s another pretty awesome Napa Valley vintage,” said Allen.

Growing Season

The growing season kicked off with heavy winter rains, which saturated soils and laid a foundation for healthy vegetative growth, preparing the vines for expansive heat events from June through harvest. “We had 38-40 days above 100 degrees this season,” said Matt Stornetta, owner of Stornetta Made Farming, “The soil moisture this winter was pivotal. The natural shade provided by the canopies helped vines endure the heat.”

Harvest kicked off earlier than in 2023 and was considered more “normal” for a Napa Valley vintage in terms of overall timing. For sparkling wine, “We started picking on August 2 and finished on September 2,” said Pauline Lhote, winemaking director at CHANDON, “The entirety of August had optimal conditions. The nights were cold, which preserved the acidity of the wines. It is a good vintage for sparkling wines.”

Still wine varieties kicked off mid-August and were harvested through mid-October. West agrees with what other winemakers are saying, “It’s a classic vintage for Napa Valley. It is nice to see what I think a lot of people would call “normal” after 3 very different vintages in a row (21,22,23).”

Yields were variable across the region; in some areas, pinot noir and chardonnay yields were down 10-20%, while zinfandel and cabernet sauvignon yields, for example, were average or slightly above average.

Heavy winter rains laid the foundation for another exceptional vintage in the Napa Valley:

• The heavy winter rains provided healthy soil moisture and canopy growth, which helped vines endure 40 or more days above 100 degrees
• Soil moisture was pivotal in supporting vegetative growth this growing season; the natural shade canopy protected the crop through the season’s heat events
• Rather than solving through additional irrigation, growers are adapting to warm weather conditions by assessing and catering to the specific needs of the vines
• Growers and wineries leaned on strong relationships and clear communication to navigate the winegrape market
• 2024 vintage yields varied across the region with most being average to above average
• Characteristics of the 2024 vintage: tremendous color, bold flavors, classic Napa Valley vintage

Vintage 2024 conditions

The below-average sized crush can be attributed to a number of seasonal factors as well as various forms of human intervention driven by economic considerations and market forces.

Major global-scale climate influences on the Australian climate in 2023 were a La Niña at the start of the year, an El Niño and a strong positive Indian Ocean Dipole which were established in early spring, and a positive phase of the Southern Annular Mode towards the end of the year.

The positive Southern Annular Modulation (SAM) caused extensive high-pressure systems, resulting in strong winds.

Australia had its eighth-hottest year on record in 2023, and the warmest winter. By contrast, autumn 2024 was relatively cool; the national mean temperature for autumn was the coolest since 2012.

Rainfall across the whole year was above the 1961–1990 average for most of Australia, but below average for Tasmania, southern Western Australia and parts of southern Victoria, eastern and south-western South Australia. Most of the rain fell later in the year; winter rainfall was below average, and August–October was Australia’s driest three-month period since records began in 1900.

Notable weather events affecting various regions at different times included heavy rainfall and significant flooding, major thunderstorms, hail events, severe winds and heatwaves. Widespread windy conditions affected flowering in many regions,

leading to reduced fruit set and yield potential, while the dry spring weather led to cold nights and the potential for frost damage.

Based on comments provided by respondents to the 2024 National Vintage Survey, different regions experienced a wide range of outcomes, from “complete disasters” to “excellent” vintages, highlighting the variability in conditions and impacts. Many regions experienced low yields due to various factors including frost, poor fruit

set, birds and disease. This is the third low-cropping year in a row for some areas. However, despite challenges, some regions including Coonawarra and the Granite Belt reported achieving long-term average or high yields.

Many regions experienced a compressed vintage due to the dry conditions and heat in late summer and early autumn.

Notwithstanding the impact of these seasonal factors, a significant amount of the reduction in overall crush size compared with the 10-year average can be attributed to deliberate decisions made by grapegrowers and wine businesses, driven by low grape prices, significant stock overhangs and reduced global demand for wine despite the very small 2023 vintage. These decisions include reduced purchasing of uncontracted fruit and the imposition of yield caps by wineries, and management of vineyards to reduce crops, harvesting of grapes to the ground, resting of vineyards and vine removals by grapegrowers.

The National Vintage Survey cannot capture how many tonnes were not harvested or produced, as it only collects information from wineries on grapes that are crushed.

Second consecutive small vintage in 2024 but no evidence of supply shortfall

Crush value analysis

The estimated value of the crush in 2024 is just over $1 billion. The value increased by 2 per cent compared with 2023 as a result of the 9 per cent increase in the crush size being partly offset by a decline of 5 per cent in average value.

Red grapes accounted for 56 per cent of the total value, with Shiraz contributing the largest share (23 per cent). Chardonnay was second by value with a 19 per cent share (see Table 3 on page 15).

The value of the crush is determined based on the value of purchased grapes. The winegrape batches reported in the National Vintage Survey are classified as either ‘winery grown’ – i.e. grown by the winery that crushed them, or ‘purchased’ – i.e. bought from an independent third party11.

An analysis of the prices paid for purchased grapes enables an estimation to be made of the value of the grapes at a region–variety level, which in turn can be aggregated to a regional or national level. Winery grown grapes are assigned the same value as purchased grapes of the same region–variety combination.

In 2024, there were 16,718 separate batches of purchased grapes reported in the National Vintage Survey by 436 different respondents, comprising a total of 859,896 tonnes with a value of just over $527 million.

There were 275 respondents who did not purchase any grapes, making up 39 per cent of respondents, but only accounting for 2 per cent of the crush.

The overall average value of the crush in 2024 was $613 per tonne – a 5 per cent decrease compared with 2023. This decrease was a result of a decrease in the share of tonnes from cool/temperate regions, which have a higher average value

The 2024 vintage in Portugal: a vintage of balance and finesse!

The start of the 2024 season began with intense rainfall during the winter period (650 mm recorded from November 2023 to the end of March 2024), which replenished water reserves in the soils, a major factor for plant growth and breathing new life into the Douro landscape.

On soils essentially made up of schist for our red wines and granite for our white wines, this rainy winter enabled the vines to develop throughout the season without any notable difficulties, without any sanitary pressure and without any hydric constraints. There were no frosts and no long periods of intense heat, as was the case in 2022, except at the end of July, when temperatures still reached 40°C. What better way to allow the vines to express themselves fully?

The grapes ripened evenly and optimally, launching the harvest in the first week of September with our endemic Douro white varieties - rabigato, viosinho and gouveio.

Only 10 days later, the Touriga Nacional enters the cellar, having benefited from a few extra rays of sunshine to refine its tannins and enhance its color. The last grapes will enter the cellar at the end of September.

Initial tastings suggest wines with good acidity, promising freshness and very interesting aromatic complexity. This Upper Douro vintage will undoubtedly stand out for the finesse of its Touriga!

By Chapoutier

The 2024 vintage in Spain: a vintage with great ageing potential

The Ribera del Duero region has a much more balanced year than usual in 2024, with no excessive summer heat and satisfactory rainfall. The only downside was the spring frosts in April. 

No sooner had pruning been completed and the vines begun to weep than the Ribera was hit by a cold snap at the end of April.
Temperatures of around -3°C for several days in a row gripped the Ribera vineyards, particularly those of Sotillo de la Ribera. These black frosts will affect part of our future harvest.

After this incident, the vines struggled to get going again, but this was without counting on generous rainfall, which enabled the vines to recover. As the season progressed, with cumulative rainfall 70% higher than the average for the last five years, reaching 600 mm overall, the vines and grapes were able to develop without any water constraints.

Green harvesting was limited as the summer approached, and the leaf area thus preserved, combined with a reduced grape load and looser bunches, ensured optimal phenolic ripeness during the summer.
The return to a cooler climate in September slowed down the ripening of the grapes, bringing us back to normal harvesting dates for the Ribera, and so it's in the first week of October that our first Albillo grapes will be harvested from the Garnachera plot.

The Tempranillo grapes will follow in mid-october.

By Chapoutier