Dornfelder red wine variety in Australia

Dornfelder is a German bred red wine variety now making an appearance in Australia.

Try this mixed dozen from our wine merchant partner

Click image for details

Dornfelder wine from Tasmania

This variety was bred in Germany in the 1950s. Its heritage include the varieties Pinot Noir, Schiava Grossa, Blaufankisch and Blauer Portugieser.

Although it is a relatively new variety it has rapidly become popular in Germany and more recently in Switzerland. In England it is sometimes used to make rose style wines.

Jancis Robinson in Wine Grapes describes this variety as

the most successful of modern red German crosses making dark, velvty wines

Dornfelder in Australia

This variety is very new to Australia, despite it playing an anochronistic role in one of the episodes of the ABC drama Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries set in the 1920s.

As far as I know there are three wineries with an interest in the variety.

Boyntons of Bright in the Alpine Valleys region has a few rows planted.

White Rock Winery in Northern Tasmania have a Dornfelder wine which is won a top gold medal in its class at the 2016 Cool Climate Wine Show.

Also in Northern Tasmania Winter Brook Winery have Dornfelder planted.

It seems that this variety could fill a niche as a smooth drinking red wine alternative to pinot noir in cooler wine regions.

Learn More about Grape varieties

De Long's Wine Grape Varietal Table

Get your copy of
De Long's Wine Grape Varietal Table

Details Here

Wine Grapes by Jancis Robinson, Julia Harding and José Vouillamoz

Order your copy now!

A physical copy from Vinodiversity's recommended online bookseller
An iBooks copy for your iPad or iPhone
A Kindle edition for Kindles and other devices, including Mac and PC desktops and laptops.