The white grape variety with reddish berry colour originates from Hungary (Kövi = from/on stone). There are over 60 synonyms, indicating great age. Some grouped alphabetically by country are Mala Dinka (Bulgaria); Großsteinschiller, Kövidinka Rose, Rosentraube, Roter Steinschiller, Steinschiller (Germany); Ružica Crvena (Croatia); Fleischtraube (Austria); Dinka Alba (Romania); Kevidinka, Ružica (Serbia); Kamená Dinka (Slovakia); Dinka Fehér, Kövidinka Piros, Kövidinka Rosovaia, Rusica, Ruzsica, Vörösdinka (Hungary). The ancestry (parentage) is unknown. Despite seemingly suggestive synonyms or morphological similarities, it must not be confused with the varieties Arany Sárfehér, Glavinuša (Kövidinka), Kövidinka Fehér (with white berries, possibly related), Pozsonyi or Savagnin Rose (Mala Dinka). It was a crossing partner of the new varieties Bakarka, Jubileum 75, Karát and Sila, as well as a parent of Grünfränkisch (natural crossing).
The variety was supposedly already cultivated in Hungary in the Middle Ages. According to one unverifiable hypothesis, it is said to have come from Croatia, according to another, it was introduced by German colonists. However, there is no genetic evidence for this. The late-ripening vine is resistant to winter frost, botrytis and drought. It yields white wines that are light in alcohol and neutral in taste. The variety is cultivated in Hungary in the areas of Csongrád and Kunság (Alföld) on 658 hectares. There are further stocks in Croatia (56 ha in 2010) and Romania (1 ha in 2010). In 2016, only the stock in Hungary was reported (Kym Anderson statistics).
Source: Wine Grapes / J. Robinson, J. Harding, J. Vouillamoz / Penguin Books Ltd. 2012
Images: Images: Ursula Brühl, Doris Schneider, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI)
