The Best Wine Vintages to Drink in 2020 | Wine Enthusiast
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The Best Wine Vintages to Drink in 2020

Each year we put together one of the most comprehensive wine vintage charts available, chronicling nearly 25 years of wine across the globe. Our goal is help you know which bottles to drink, what vintages may need more age to reach perfection, and which bottles are past their prime 

However, even with our new interactive chart, sorting through all that information can be a bit daunting. That’s why we also compile an annual cheat-sheet showing what wine vintages are best to drink right now. Next time you’re standing in a wine shop wondering if you should buy the 2012 Napa Cab or the 2013, check this list to see if your year is listed, and which of the vintages at their peak had the best grapes. 

Thirsty for more? View our full Wine Vintage Chart to see which bottles should remain in the cellar, and which may be best to cook with. 

* Indicates the highest-rated vintage(s) of those currently in their peak drinking window. 

Jump Straight to a Region

United States | France | Italy | Spain | Germany | Portugal | Austria | Australia | New Zealand | South Africa | Chile | Argentina
Sonoma, California / Getty
Sonoma, California / Getty

United States

California

Napa Valley

Napa Chardonnay: 2012, 2013, 2014*

Napa Cabernet Sauvignon: 2010, 2011, 2012*, 2014

Napa Zinfandel: 2012, 2013*, 2014*

Russian River Valley

Russian River Valley Chardonnay: 2012, 2013*, 2014*

Russian River Valley Pinot Noir: 2012*, 2014

Sonoma

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon: 2012*

Sonoma Pinot Noir: 2012*, 2013*, 2014

Sonoma Zinfandel: 2012, 2013*, 2014*

Carneros

Carneros Chardonnay: 2012, 2013, 2014*

Carneros Pinot Noir: 2012, 2013*, 2014

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara Chardonnay: 2010, 2011, 2012*, 2013*, 2014*, 2015

Santa Barbara Pinot Noir: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012*, 2013, 2014

Central Coast

Central Coast Chardonnay: 2010, 2011, 2012*, 2013*, 2014*, 2015

Central Coast Pinot Noir: 2008, 2009, 2010*, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014*

Central Coast Syrah: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013*

Other California

Anderson Valley Pinot Noir: 2008, 2009*, 2010*, 2011

North Coast Syrah: 2010, 2011*

South Coast Syrah: 2012*, 2013*, 2014*, 2015*

Paso Robles Reds: 2012, 2013*

Sierra Foothills Zinfandel: 2009, 2010*, 2011

Oregon

Willamette Valley Pinot Noir: 2006*, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011

Willamette Valley Whites: 2012, 2013*, 2014*, 2015*

Southern Oregon Reds: 2011*, 2012*, 2013

Washington

Columbia Valley Cabernet, Merlot: 2006, 2007*, 2008, 2009

Columbia Valley Syrah: 2009*, 2010, 2011*

Columbia Valley Whites: 2012*, 2014, 2015, 2016

New York

Finger Lakes Reds: 2012*, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016

Finger Lakes Whites: 2012*, 2013, 2014, 2015*, 2016*

Long Island Reds: 2010*, 2012*, 2013*, 2014

Long Island Whites: 2014*, 2015*

Burgundy, France / Getty
Burgundy, France / Getty

Europe

France

Bordeaux

Pomerol/Saint-Émilion: 1998, 2001*, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007

Médoc: 1998, 1999, 2000*, 2001*, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012

Graves (red): 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001*, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013

Graves (white): 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007*, 2008, 2009

Sauternes/Barsac: 1999, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007*, 2008, 2012

Burgundy

Côte de Nuits (red): 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002*, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008

Côte de Beaune (red): 2001, 2003*, 2006, 2007, 2013

Chablis: 2001, 2002*, 2004, 2005*, 2006, 2007, 2008

Côte de Beaune (white): 2001, 2002*, 2004, 2006, 2007

Mâconnais: 2008, 2009*, 2010*, 2011

The Rhône

Nothern Rhône Reds: 1995, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009*

Nothern Rhône Whites: 2001, 2004*, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013

Southern Rhône Reds: 1998*, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007*, 2008, 2009, 2011

Southern Rhône Whites: 2015, 2016*, 2017*, 2018*

The Loire

Loire Dry Whites: 2005*, 2007, 2008, 2009*, 2010*, 2011

Loire Sweet Whites: 1996, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2005*, 2006, 2008

Loire Reds: 2000*, 2003, 2005*, 2008, 2009*, 2010, 2011*

Other France

Alsace: 2007, 2008, 2009*, 2011, 2012

Beaujolais: 2006, 2008, 2009*, 2010, 2011, 2012

Champagne: 1996*, 1998, 2000, 2002*, 2003, 2005, 2006

Languedoc-Roussillon: 2009*

Provence (reds): 2007*, 2009, 2010, 2011

Tuscany, Italy / Getty
Tuscany, Italy / Getty

Italy

Piedmont

Barbaresco: 1995, 1996*, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2004*, 2005, 2007, 2009

Barolo: 1995, 1997, 1998*

Veneto

Amarone: 1997*, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003

Soave Classico/Lugana: 2008, 2009*, 2010*, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018

Tuscany

Bolgheri: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001*, 2003, 2004, 2007

Chianti Classico: 1999*, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009

Brunello di Montalcino: 1997*, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001

Maremma: 2004*, 2005, 2006, 2014

Marche

Verdicchio: 2012*, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018

Conero/Rosso Piceno: 2008, 2009, 2010*

Campania

Campania Reds: 2001, 2004, 2005*

Campania Whites: 2012*, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018

Sicily

Sicily Reds: 2005*, 2006

Sicily Whites: 2014*, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018

Other Italy

Abruzzo Reds: 2004, 2005, 2006*, 2007, 2008, 2009*, 2013, 2014

Basilicata Aglianico del Vulture: 2004, 2005*, 2014

Collio-Friuli Whites: 2012*, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018

Lombardy Franciacorta: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009*, 2010, 2011, 2012

Puglia Reds: 2009*, 2010*, 2011, 2014

Sardinia Reds: 2008, 2009*

Trentino-Alto Adige Whites: 2013, 2014, 2015*, 2017, 2018

Umbria Reds: 2005, 2006*

Rioja Alavesa, Spain / Getty
Rioja Alavesa, Spain / Getty

Spain

Catalonia Reds: 2010*, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

Rioja Reds: 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010*, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

Ribera del Duero Reds: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010*, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

Galicia Whites: 2018*

Germany

Mosel Whites: 2004, 2005*, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

Rhine Region Wines: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007*, 2008, 2009, 2010

Franken Whites: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007*, 2008, 2009, 2010

Portugal

Port: 1995, 1997*, 2000, 2006

Red Table Wines: 1997*, 1998, 2000, 2003*, 2005, 2008

White Table Wines: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013*, 2014*

Austria

Danube Region Whites: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011*, 2012*

Burgenland Reds: 2008, 2009*, 2012

Burgenland Sweet Wines:  2005*, 2006, 2008

Coonawarra, Australia / Getty
Coonawarra, Australia / Getty

Southern Hemisphere

Australia

Barossa/McLaren Vale Shiraz: 2002, 2004, 2005*, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011

Clare Valley Riesling: 2005*, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009*, 2011, 2013

Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon: 1998*, 2001, 2004, 2005*, 2006*, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011

Yarra Valley Pinot Noir: 2010, 2011, 2012*

Western Australia Cabernet/Chardonnay: 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007*, 2008, 2009, 2010*, 2011

Hunter Valley Semillon: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009*, 2012, 2013

New Zealand

Hawke’s Bay Reds: 2009, 2010, 2013*

Martinborough Pinot Noir: 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011*

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc: 2016*, 2017, 2018

Central Otago Pinot Noir: 2007*, 2008, 2009, 2010*, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

South Africa

South Africa Reds: 2006, 2007, 2009*, 2011

Colchaugua, Chile / Getty
Colchaugua, Chile / Getty

Chile

Maipo Reds: 2011, 2012, 2013*, 2014, 2015*

Casablanca/Coastal Whites: 2018*

Colchagua Reds: 2011*, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015*

Argentina

Argentina/Mendoza Reds: 2013*, 2014, 2015