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Michigan

Michigan Vintage Chart

Explore the vintage chart for Michigan from 2014–2023.

Michigan's wine landscape is uniquely shaped by its cool climate. It faces specific challenges and benefits, from late spring frosts to the prolonged, warm autumns. These conditions significantly influence the quality and quantity of the harvest, presenting challenges but also opportunities for the region's viticulture.

The cultivation of over 50 different grape varieties stands as Michigan's strategic response to this variability, ensuring that, regardless of the year's specific weather patterns, there are always grape types that thrive and produce exceptional wines. This adaptability, combined with the potential hurdles of excessive rainfall during harvest and severe winter frosts below -20°C (-4°F), showcases the resilience, diversity, and distinct character of Michigan's wine industry.

Winemaking

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Recent Vintages To Explore
2023
The harvest of 2023 was epic with huge quantities of very high quality fruit. One of the top vintages in the last 20 years.
2022
Great for red wines and varieties needing higher ripening levels, thanks to consistently warm temperatures.
2021
Consistent warmth made for high-quality fruit in all varieties, including late-ripening reds and Riesling; a good year for a broad selection.
2020
Despite a late start, the season caught up by summer. Wines approaching the quality of 2016, particularly good for varieties that thrive in warmer conditions.
2019
Challenging year particularly for reds, which were often redirected to sparkling or rosé production; whites developed nicely, making them a safer bet.
2018
A good year for both whites and reds as the vines managed to push through to full maturity despite a late start.
2017
An average year all-around, resulting in a balanced production of sparkling, white, rosé, and red wines; a safe year for trying a variety of wines.
2016
Hot, sunny season led to mature, disease-free fruit; excellent for all wine varieties, particularly ripe and robust red wines.
2015
Early bud break but a cooler, wetter fall. Still a generally good vintage, though wines may have higher acidity, affecting mainly the balance in red wines.
2014
Extremely cold, leading to significant bud and vine losses; most impacted were varieties susceptible to cold, while some resilient vines may still offer limited quantities of interest.
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).

Michigan 101

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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.