Ontario VQA Vintage Chart 2004-1988

By Konrad Ejbich   © 2005

This chart provides ratings for Ontario wines from 1988 to 2004 based on drinkability and how well specific varieties of grapes performed.

You can see download a PDF copy of the Ontario VQA Vintage Chart 2004 - 1988 here.

Quick Reference Chart
Wine Type 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988
Ontario Reds 78A 72A 88B 83C 76C 87C 90C 77D 65E 86D 75E 80D 64E 88D 73E 77E 63E
Ontario Whites 82B 78B 84C 78C 76D 77D 81D 81D 71E 81D 76E 75E 69E 77E 77E 77E 76E

Red Wines
Red Varieties 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988
Baco Noir 86A 78B 87B 75C 76C 81D 86C 80D 73E 82D 73E 79E 73E 87E 78E 82E 75E
Cabernet Franc 73A 69A 91B 84B 74C 90C 94B 79D 58E 87C 71E 72E 53E 89D 71E 81E 59E
Cabernet Sauvignon 67A 68A 89B 79B 69D 85C 96B 79D 51E 90C 70E 71E 53E 90C 66E 79E 59E
Gamay 77B 69B 87C 86C 75C 86C 89C 73E 62E 83E 73E 71E 62E 84E 79E 70E 69E
Marechal Foch 80A 77B 83B 87C 81C 88C 86D 81E 70E 75E 75E 92D 68E 82D 69E 67E 50E
Merlot 74A 68A 90B 87B 67C 91B 92B 81D 58E 93C 75E 83E 61E 94D 75E 80E 64E

Pinot Noir

 92A 83B 93B 89B 83C 86C 87C 75D 74E 87D 79E 81E 67E 86D 73E 78E 65E

Syrah / Shiraz

 75A 65B 88B 80C --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Zweigelt 81B 68B 85C 83C 79C 78D 78D 72E 70E 58E 85E 90E 72E 90E --- --- ---

White Wines
White Varieties 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988
Chardonnay 80A 77B 83B 73C 78C 79D 81D 82D 69E 84E 81E 81E 69E 79E 81E 73E 75E
Gewürztraminer 71A 73B 83C 80C 70C 73D 82D 80E 74D 78E 74E 76E 74E 71E 76E 75E 80E
Pinot Gris 81B 63C 79C 76D 74E 78E 75E 75E 69E 78E 63E 57E 75E 80E --- --- ---
Riesling (Dry) 82A 77B 80B 73C 79C 75C 75D 87C 79D 81D 77D 67E 75E 74E 66E 81E 83E
Riesling (Late Harvest) 90A 87B 88B 73C 78C 83C 87C 75D 72E 86C 84C 93C 50E 80D 83E 77E 65E
Sauvignon Blanc 80B 80C 80C 82D 74E 73E 86E 82E 61E 64E --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Viognier 89B 86C 93C 80D 80E 77E 80E --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Ice Wines
Ice Wines 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988
Cabernet Franc 86A 75B 90B 69C 71C --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Gewürztraminer 92A 88B 85B 72B 70B 80B 81C 71C 89C --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Riesling 93A 90A 82B 81B 83B 84B 91B 87C 84C 90B 85C 90C 68D 81C 83C 90C 73C
Vidal Blanc 88B 85B 89B 83C 86C 79C 89C 67C 76C 73C 79C 78C 73D 78C 73D 88C 75D

Lake Erie North Shore and Pelee Island
White Varieties 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000                        
Baco Noir 84A 78B 83B 79C 78C                        
Cabernet Franc 78A 68B 91B 90B 76C                        
Cabernet Sauvignon 69A 70B 87B 88B 73C                        
Chardonnay 80B 75C 80C 76C 78C                        
Merlot 76A 70B 90B 88C 72C                        
Pinot Noir 80A 71B 94B 89C 80C                        
Reisling 79A 75B 82B 76C 78C                        

Prince Edward County
White Varieties 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000                        
Cabernet Franc 68A 67B --- --- ---                        
Cabernet Sauvignon 65A 63B --- --- ---                        
Chardonnay 78A 81B 71C --- ---                        
Gamay 78B 70C 85C --- ---                        
Merlot 67A 67B --- --- ---                        
Pinot Noir 90A 84B 87C --- ---                        
Reisling 79A 74B 78C --- ---                        

Rating System
Vintage Quality     Current Drinkability
0 = worst

100 = best		   A = still needs more age
  B = can be drunk now but will improve
  C = at its peak
  D = should be drunk soon
  E = probably over the hill
ALB = some wines may be affected by Asian Lady Bug taint

About the 2005 Ontario VQA Vintage Chart

Winemakers from every commercial grape winery in Ontario were asked to rate their own wines according to two criteria.

  1. "How well did specific grape varieties perform in each of the years listed?"
  2. "How ready and drinkable are the wines made from those varieties today?"

Ratings on this vintage chart reflect information gathered solely from these wine producers, ie. the "vinsiders". And thanks to the wide range of large and small wineries that returned the survey, it was possible to come up with truly representative averages for each grape variety.

Vintages have been given a numerical rating from 1 to 100. (I'd say anything with a score over 80 is a safe buy.) The arrows indicate the current drinkability of each variety during the next year or two.

As with every vintage chart, I encourage you to view this one as a starting point rather than as the final word. After all, these are only averages. There are always winemakers capable of overcoming the challenges of a lousy harvest by making decent wine but there also are bumblers who turn the best grapes into dreck.

One thing I can absolutely guarantee: If you use of this vintage chart regularly, you will increase your chances of drinking a decent wine to 98.7 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

~ Konrad Ejbich