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Dornfelder red wine variety in Australia

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

Dornfelder grapes at Winter Brook Vineyard in Northern Tasmania

This variety was bred in Germany in the 1950s. Its heritage includes 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.

Dornfelder ferment at Mewstone Winery in Tasmania

Its in this Book

Dornfelder is one of the varieties described in my book What Varietal is That? A Beginners Guide to the Most Important Wine Grape Varieties.

Available in ebook and printed versions

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Jancis Robinson in Wine Grapes describes this variety as

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

Dornfelder in Australia

Dornfelder wine from Tasmania

This variety is very new to Australia, despite it playing an anachronistic 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 just four 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.

In Southern Tasmania Mewstone make a Dornfelder dominant blend.

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

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De Long's Wine Grape Varietal Table

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Wine Grapes by Jancis Robinson, Julia Harding and José Vouillamoz

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