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Idaho

Vintages

Explore the vintage chart for Idaho from 2015–2023.

Idaho's wine regions benefit from a continental climate, providing plenty of sunshine, which aids in the consistent ripening of grapes

However, the region is not without its challenges: spring frosts can endanger early budding vines, and extremely cold winters with temperatures dropping below -20°C (-4°F) sometimes cause vine damage.

The sharp transition from summer to fall allows for the production of distinctive icewines, a unique aspect of Idaho’s viticulture. Additionally, while sunshine is abundant, smoke from wildfires in neighboring states can occasionally pose a risk to the quality of the harvest.

Winemaking

Explore behind the scenes with Idaho Winemakers

Recent Vintages To Explore
2023
Challenging late start due to cold, wet conditions, yet a warm fall ensured a high-quality harvest, particularly good for late-ripening reds.
2022
Delayed budbreak followed by a warm, extended summer, yielding very high quality aromatic whites and robust reds despite early frost impacts.
2021
Early heatwaves and a hot, dry summer accelerated the harvest, resulting in concentrated flavors especially favorable for robust red wines.
2020
Unique vintage with minimal wildfire smoke impact and reduced light, leading to a very high-quality yield, excellent for both reds and whites.
2019
Warm season with an abrupt October freeze, highly beneficial for early-picked varieties and exceptional for producing outstanding icewines.
2018
Consistently warm conditions produced heavier yields of high-quality grapes, making it a favorable year for both red and white varieties.
2017
Extreme cold significantly reduced yields, impacting most production, with some wineries opting out or sourcing grapes externally.
2016
Early warmth led to a large and extended harvest, providing good quality early and mid-season varieties; mixed results for late-season picks.
2015
Warm to hot conditions resulted in an early, reduced yield harvest, with early wrapping beneficial against sudden November cold, suitable for concentrated reds.
Vintage Chart Legend
Highly Consistent
Average Consistency
Variable Consistency
Large Production
Medium Production
Small Production
Hot Temp/Low Rain
Average Weather
Cool Temp/High Rain

How Wine Folly Rates a Vintage

We gather the facts about a vintage and how those features affect the wines. This way, you can better find the vintages that fit your needs (whether you're a collector or looking to drink now).

Quality

Generally speaking, the more consistent the vintage, the better the quality.

The crop consistency determines the quality of a vintage. In some years, we see average to high consistency.

On other vintages, quality is much more variable. In these variable years, it's best to look for producers who consistently produce high-quality wines because they can roll with difficulties growing grapes.

Weather

Ideally, producers want consistent temperatures year in and out for consistent quality. Of course, this is not very likely to happen as weather changes frequently. During harvest, rain, hail, and heat waves are key events that can create a difficult vintage.

Seasonal events include frost, hail, drought, and even wildfires. These events affect the quality or size of a vintage.

In warmer climates, getting enough rainfall during the growing season is key for healthy grapes and ripening.

In cooler or more moderate climates, getting enough but not too much rain and getting the right amount of sunshine and heat are important for producing ripe grapes.

Volume

Contrary to popular belief, low volumes do not always equal high quality. Producers can have very high-quality years where volumes are also high.

The opposite is also true, where we might have low yields but the quality may also be low due to disease in the vineyard or poor weather conditions.

So why do we care about volume? If there's more, it can lower prices, and the prices might be higher if there is less.

Wines

Delve into Idaho wines