2014 Wine Vintage Report

🏆 Was 2014 a Good Wine Vintage Year?

2014 was a year with plenty of global challenges, but also standout successes in many regions.

In the northern hemisphere, Europe had an inconsistent year, with excessive rain and cool summers affecting many areas. Italy had a tough year, Spain did okay, but France actually had an exceptional year. Over in North America, California and the west coast overall had spectacular years as well.

In the southern hemisphere, South America had a challenging year, with Argentina and Chile suffering but pulling through with a few standouts. Australia did okay despite the heat, New Zealand produced excellent wines, and South Africa produced some good wines despite rain and frost.

New World wines fared a little better than Old World wines in 2014, but France’s success must still be noted.

Let’s dig in to 2014.

📉 Global Wine Trends in 2014

🌍🍇 Global wine production in 2014 was 269.4 million hectoliters, down 7.1% from 2013.

🌎🍷 Global wine consumption in 2014 was 240 million hectoliters, down 1.2% from 2013. The US drank the most wine (30.6 mhl), followed by France (27.5 mhl), Germany (20.3 mhl), Italy (19.5 mhl), China (15.5 mhl), and the UK (12.6 mhl).

🌐 The 2014 Vintage by Country

📍 The Big Four

France, Italy, Spain, and the US consistently dominate the modern global wine scene.

FRANCE produced 46.5 million hectoliters of wine in 2014, a healthy amount. A wet winter, a warm and dry spring, and a cool, damp late season cleared up in time for harvest, resulting in fragrant, medium, and acidic wines.

• BORDEAUX had a beyond-excellent year, producing some of the best wines in 2014.
• SAUTERNES also enjoyed a beyond-excellent year, with standout results.
• BURGUNDY experienced a great year, maintaining its reputation for quality.
• BEAUJOLAIS had a great year, delivering wines of notable quality.
• CHAMPAGNE had a very good year, producing excellent sparkling wines.
• ALSACE performed very well, with wines that upheld the region’s high standards.
• THE LOIRE VALLEY had a very good year, producing strong and consistent wines.
• THE RHÔNE VALLEY fared the worst in 2014, with results that fell below the standards of other regions.

ITALY had an average year, with a smaller-than-normal harvest (44.2 million hectoliters) of slightly-better-than-average grapes. A wet winter was followed by a wet summer with cool temperatures. Hail and other overall adverse weather conditions led to a lot of vineyards struggling this year. Prosecco showed some promise, but red wines struggled with high acidity. However, Nebbiolos and Barberas may be your best bet. Issues with mildew capped off a challenging year.

SPAIN saw a cool, wet summer that brought mildew concerns, but a warmer harvest season helped balance out many grapes. Regions like Priorat, Montsant, and Toro produced some of the best, while wetter areas like Rioja were more touch-and-go. Spain produced 39.5 million hectoliters of largely well-balanced, vibrant wine this year.

THE UNITED STATES had an above-average year, with some reduced yields but overall excellent wines. It produced 23.1 million hectoliters of wine.

• CALIFORNIA produced excellent wines in 2014 despite challenges like an ongoing drought and the South Napa earthquake. A mild winter, spring rains, and a steady summer created ideal conditions for early bud burst, which led to a fast and early harvest. The drought cut yields in regions like Paso Robles, but the fruit that remained was of high quality and good concentration. Napa had another great year for elegant Cabernet Sauvignon, while Sonoma and Santa Barbara put out good wines across the board–a more sophisticated and refined mix. The year was a great follow-up to the legendary vintage from last year.
• WASHINGTON STATE had an excellent 2014, with warm temperatures leading to an early harvest of a massive yield. It was a standout year for Cabernet Sauvignons and Merlots.
• OREGON had one of its earliest and most bountiful vintages, with a warm, dry growing season devoid of major issue. It was a very good year for Pinot Noirs.
• NEW YORK STATE had a challenging year, with a harsh winter and a wet growing season, but sunnier autumns helped save the year. In the Finger Lakes, Riesling was extra vibrant. After a dry summer, Long Island produced excellent Cabernet Francs and Sauvignon Blancs.
• VIRGINIA had a tough winter and a wet spring, but the rest of the season allowed for better ripening and acidity. Cabernet Sauvignons and Petit Verdots will be the freshest bets.

📍 Europe

The heart of the wine world, Europe boasts centuries of expertise and massive variety.

PORTUGAL had a rough year, producing 6.2 million hectoliters. Lots of rain and cool weather resulted in unexceptional quality across the board, though you might enjoy grapes like Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional out of Douro Superior. 2014 was not a largely declared vintage year for Port due to these difficulties, and those that were declared by some producers are not the most exceptional quality.

GERMANY produced 9.2 million hectoliters of wine in 2014. It was a challenging year. A mild winter and early spring led to premature budburst, and then a cool, wet summer brought disease pressures. The biggest threat was drosophila flies, which devastated Pinot Noir crops in warmer regions like Baden and Pfalz. September rains complicated growth even more, requiring winemakers to carefully select their grapes. Cooler areas like Saar produced balanced, elegant wines, while other regions crafted fresh, dry Rieslings.

AUSTRIA produced 2.0 million hectoliters of wine in 2014. It was an incredibly challenging year, marked by excessive rainfall and variable weather. A mild winter transitioned into a warm, dry spring with early budburst. However, May brought heavy rains and cool temperatures–it was the wettest may since 1820! Even summer was wet and gloomy. Hailstorms and clouds exacerbated the difficulties, especially in regions like Burgenland and Niederösterreich. October’s weather improved, but much of the damage was already done. The harvest was small and had to be carefully done to avoid diluted and rotted fruit. Despite the difficulties, some decent wines were crafted, including reasonable Grüner Veltliner and Riesling with high acidity. Others were moderately successful, if light and lower in alcohol than usual. But in general, this was not a great vintage.

Hungary produced 2.4 million hectoliters of wine in 2014.

 Greece produced 2.8 million hectoliters of wine in 2014.

 Georgia produced 1.2 million hectoliters of wine in 2014.

 Romania produced 3.7 million hectoliters of wine in 2014.

 Moldova produced 1.6 million hectoliters of wine in 2014.

 Russia produced 4.8 million hectoliters of wine in 2014.

 THE UNITED KINGDOM produced about 47,400 hectoliters of wine in 2014. It was a banner year, with vines escaping frost damage and flourishing in a arm autumn. It should be a great year across the board, producing elegant wines with great sugar levels and balanced acidity.

📍 North & South America

The Americas continue to expand their influence, from the rugged Andes to Canada’s icy valleys.

ARGENTINA produced 15.2 million hectoliters of wine in 2014. There were significant challenges this year, with a cooler-than-average growing season and heavy rains late in the harvest, causing widespread issues with rot. Frosts in Mendoza further exacerbated things, especially affecting Chardonnay. Lower-elevation vineyards struggled even more with mildew. The better wines from this year will be from high-altitude sites, and you’ll have the best luck with Malbec and Torrontés. Overall, not the best year for Argentinian wine.

CHILE produced 9.9 million hectoliters of wine in 2014. It was a challenging year, with devastating spring frosts impacting yields, especially for white wines. Coastal regions, including Casablanca, were hit especially hard. Despite the rough start, a warm and dry summer with strong diurnal temp variation allowed the surviving fruit to develop excellent ripeness and acidity. Late-ripening varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère excelled with concentrated flavors and smooth tannins. Overall, it was a good year, especially for reds.

 Brazil produced 2.6 million hectoliters of wine in 2014.

 Uruguay had a dry spring that led to a rainy summer through February, making it a difficult year overall.

📍 Oceania

Oceania’s unique climates and soils produce globally distinctive wines.

AUSTRALIA produced 11.9 million hectoliters of wine in 2014. It was a challenging year, thanks to frost, heat, and disease. Tasmania and the Yarra Valley saw reduced yields due to frost and damaging winds, while McLaren Vale and Barossa faced intense summer heat, favoring heat-resistant grapes like Mourvèdre. While Hunter & Clare Valleys and Margaret River had somewhat steady conditions, Coonawarra had a colder, wetter winter than usual. However, most vineyards still generally reported good-quality wines for the year.

NEW ZEALAND produced 3.2 million hectoliters of wine in 2014. It was an excellent vintage, with some wines even rivaling the legendary results of last year. Marlborough had its largest crop ever, with vibrant, high-quality Sauvignon Blancs. Hawke’s Bay had warm and dry conditions that resulted in delicious, nuanced reds. Central Otago had some issues with mildew, but still produced excellently-concentrated reds. This was a great year for fruit-forward New Zealand wine.

📍 Africa & Asia

Emerging markets in Africa and Asia bring fresh perspectives to the industry.

SOUTH AFRICA produced 11.5 million hectoliters of wine in 2014. It was a challenging year, with a cool, rainy spring and wet conditions that persisted through much of the growing season. Frost in areas like Orange River reduced yields, while the cool weather created disease pressure especially for Sauvignon Blancs. Coastal regions fared better. 2014 was not an exceptional year for South Africa, but there are still good wines to be found.

China produced 11.6 million hectoliters of wine in 2014.

Sources: OIV, Wine-Searcher, Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast (2), TWI, Vintage Wine & Port, Washington Wine, Jancis Robinson (2), K&L Wines, Napa Vintners, South America Wine Guide, Austrian Wine.

🍷 Wines from 2014 I’ve Tried

See all Vintages (Years) of Wine, or jump straight to: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, or 2024. See also: No Vintage.