The red grape variety is a new cross between Deckrot x Blauer Portugieser. The cross was made in 1972 at the Geisenheim Research Institute (Rheingau) by Dr. Helmut Becker (1927-1990). Externally, it is very similar to the father variety. The vine is resistant to frost and fungal diseases. The red-fleshed berries yield deep-dark red wines that are well suited as Teinturier (colouring wine). The variety is grown on 53 hectares in Germany (Baden, Rheinhessen, Pfalz) and on 15 hectares in Switzerland (Schaffhausen). In 2016, a total of 68 hectares of vines were designated (Kym Anderson).
Picture left: Ursula Brühl, Doris Schneider, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI)
Picture right: Dr Joachim Schmid, FA Geisenheim, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
The glossary is a monumental achievement and one of the most important contributions to wine knowledge. Of all the encyclopaedias I use on the subject of wine, it is by far the most important. That was the case ten years ago and it hasn't changed since.
Andreas Essl
Autor, Modena