Italian Vintage Charts & Harvest Reports

Last updated: Sep 15, 2025

The vintage charts and harvest reports provided by Wine Scholar Guild give you the ranking for major Italian wine regions and vintages from 2010 to today. Italian wine expert Tom Hyland compiled the vintage assessments for 2010 through 2020. Paul Caputo, wine writer, judge, critic and creator of Vinorandum, has compiled this information and written the vintage charts for the 2021 vintage. For 2022 and 2023, wine writer and educator Michaela Morris has provided the assessments, offering tentative ratings that will be updated once she has tasted a representative set of finished wines.

Northern Italy

In general, the decade of the 2010s was marked by warm growing seasons most years; this was often a benefit, especially in the cool climate wine territories of Friuli and Alto Adige. Warmer temperatures also aided the higher elevation vineyards in the Langhe district of Piedmont where Barolo and Barbaresco are produced, as well as in Veneto for the production of Amarone della Valpolicella.

The finest vintages were 2010, 2013, 2016, 2018 and 2019 for both reds and whites; indeed, producers throughout the north have labeled 2019 a near-perfect growing season for every varietal. Only 2011 and 2017 were problematic due to the excessive heat those years (especially the latter). 2014 was the exception to the decade’s warmer temperatures; producers in Valpolicella called it one of the most difficult years they have ever faced, while Barolo and Barbaresco vintners fared much better, crafting less powerful, but beautifully balanced, well-structured wines.

Roaring into the 20s, the warming trend has continued, bringing with it extreme weather events – from water bombs and hail to frost and drought with more virulent pest and disease. Against this backdrop, the quality of wines from Italy’s north speaks to both resilience of the vines and heroic efforts by producers.

Thus far, the decidedly warm 2021 has eclipsed the absolutely respectable 2020 in terms of consistently high quality throughout - despite frost and hail lowering yields. Whites from Piedmont, Soave, Trentino-Alto Adige and Friuli should be as highly lauded as the reds. It is a good year to venture beyond Barolo and Barbaresco to seek out Nebbiolo, from the cooler regions of Alto Piemonte and Vatellina. Both 2022 and 2023 were trickier but as wines from these vintages trickle into the market, it is clear that many rose above the challenges. Nevertheless, generalizations will be difficult. Most 2024 have yet to be previewed. By all accounts, it was an even more complicated year.

Vintage	Barolo/Barbaresco	Amarone/Valpolicella
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010

Central Italy

The decade of the 2010s for central Italy was similar to that of the north, in that climate change marked a new norm for warmer temperatures in most years. 2010 for all of central Italy was a successful vintage with warm, but not excessive temperatures; reds from Bolgheri, Montalcino and Umbria were beautifully structured, while this was also a wonderful year for expressive aromatics in the whites, particularly with Verdicchio from Marche. 2011 and 2012 were very warm (especially 2011), offering ripe, forward wines. 2013 returned to more typical temperatures, while 2014 was problematic, with cool temperatures and above average rainfall; the whites and reds did offer very good acidity, but lacked concentration. 2015 and 2016 were glorious years, though different in nature, as both were warm, with 2015 offering riper red wines, while the reds in 2016 are better sturctured for long-term cellaring. 2015 was an especially notable year for white wines (Verdicchio, Grechetto from Lazio and Umbria). 2017 was very hot, resulting in ripe, forward wines that are lighter than usual. 2018 was a success, with beautiful balance for all whites and reds, while 2019 has proven outstanding for white wines, while the reds show exceptional promise.

Central Italy’s winegrowers are no less heroic than their northern counterparts as they face the vagaries of climate change in the third decade of the 21st century. Conditions have been increasingly erratic and extreme since 2020 with even more pronounced frost and heat in 2021, severe drought in 2022, then Peronospora the following year. In 2024, Le Marche and Abruzzo experienced a torrid, dry summer culminating in an early, low yielding harvest while to the west of the Apennines, Tuscany and Umbria saw an unusually rainy one. Once again, 2021 stands out in the first half of the decade though success is perhaps less uniformly widespread. Bolgheri, Chianti Classico and Umbria are among the stars with ripe yet structured and succulent reds. Chianti Classico also shines in 2022 boasting textural, grippy wines and a crunch that belies the heat. In Vino Nobile, the 2022s are generally superior to the 2021s as these too exhibit harmony despite extreme conditions. It remains to be seen in which vintage(s) Brunello will excel. Throughout Central Italy, 2023 is hugely varied lot in terms of both quality and quantity.

Vintage	Bolgheri	Brunello Di Montalcino
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010

Southern Italy

2010: while this decade was marked by a new normal for warmer temperatures in most years (with the exception of 2014) in northern and central Italy, the extreme heat was not as critical a factor in the south. 2010 was an outstanding year for whites and reds, with relatively normal temperatures that delivered excellent ripeness as well as very good acidity; this was a memorable year for Nero d’Avola from Sicily and most Puglian reds, and it was particularly special for Taurasi. While most years this decade in the south were similar weather-wise to northern and central Italy, there were exceptions, especially with 2014 and 2017.

One of the finest years for the red wines of Etna was 2014, which resulted in deeply concentrated, extremely harmonious wines with beautiful structure; this area arguably produced the finest red wines in Italy this vintage. Yet, examples of Taurasi from 2014 are lighter than in most vintages, so this was not an easy year to qualify for the south. 2015 was excellent for southern whites, the best since 2010, while the reds offer notable concentration. 2016 was a unqualified success throughout the south with excellent examples from Puglia, Basilicata, Sicily (especially Etna Rosso) and Campania; the top examples of Taurasi offer the classic fruit character and structure of the best vintages. While 2017 was torrid throughout much of the country, temperatures were less excessive in parts of the south, especially in Campania.

2018 and 2019 were excellent, possibly outstanding years for southern whites, with the former year offering slightly richer wines, while the wines from 2019 are a touch lighter on the palate, but more vibrant and expressive with lively acidity; these are among the best examples of Greco di Tufo and Fiano di Avellino this decade, while the same can be said for whites from Puglia and Sicily, especially Etna Bianco, as these wines have reached a new level of quality in these vintages. For the reds, both 2018 and 2019 are impressive, with the 2018 being more powerful, while the 2019s a bit lighter, but with excellent structure.

While the south is well-accustomed to hot, arid conditions, it has not been immune to the effects of climate change. Since 2020, both heat and drought have become progressively extreme one year after the next.

2023 also saw widespread decimation due to Peronospora. Despite the heat wave that followed, reds are paradoxically lighter and less dense than anticipated. The drought stricken 2022 produced some praiseworthy Nero d’Avola from across Sicily, with ripe, concentrated fruit buoyed by vibrant acidity.

As for 2021, lucky those who tucked away bottles of Taurasi and Aglianico del Vulture. Sturdy and well-padded, they will need time. Etna’s reds are also particularly powerful and characterful this vintage, promising great cellaring potential. Look to 2020 for noteworthy Carricante.

What stands out above all in the south, even with pronounced extremes, is the resilience of its indigenous whites, especially in 2022. Curious drinkers shouldn’t be afraid to explore luscious yet saline Greco Bianco from the Cirò DOC, herbal and fleshy Verdeca from Puglia, Campania’s fragrant and juicy Falanghina - and beyond.