General information
Dornfelder is a classic German red grape variety, developed in 1955 by August Herold at the Weinsberg State Institute. He crossed Helfensteiner with Heroldrebe, aiming to create a deep-colored red wine suitable for blending. Dornfelder quickly became a quality variety in its own right, prized for its color, body, and yield reliability. Today, it is one of the most widely planted red grape varieties in Germany, with strong growth even in cooler wine regions.

Grape
The grape bunches are large, long, and shouldered, but generally remain loose in texture. The berries are medium to large, round to slightly oval, and have a thick, blue-gray to dark blue skin with a fragrant, aromatic note.

Resistance

• Peronospora (downy mildew): +
• Oidium (powdery mildew): ±
• Botrytis (gray mold): +

Wine
Dornfelder produces deeply colored wines ranging in hues from dark red to blue-red. The flavor is fruity and can range from delicate to bold, with aromas of sour cherry, elderberry, and blackberry. Skin maceration and oak aging give the wine additional depth and structure. Dornfelder is equally at home young or mature.

Cultivation advice
The grape grows very vigorously and is sensitive to wind breakage, so a sheltered location is recommended. Dornfelder has high demands on water availability and thrives in deeper, moist soils. Due to its large leaves and limited shoot formation, careful defoliation is important. The ripening period is average, and the grape is reasonably resistant to botrytis thanks to its loose cluster structure and thick skin.

Preparing the vine
The plant grows vigorously, so timely pruning and proper training are important. Defoliating around the trusses improves the quality of the harvest.

Ground preparation

• On calcareous soil: improve with lava grit
• On sandy soil: improve with bentonite and lava flour

Planting out
Soak your vine in a bucket of water for 24 hours. This allows it to soak up some water before planting.

Plant between May 1st and 15th. Use a soil auger or spade to dig a planting hole 10 cm in diameter and 30 cm deep. Insert the graft just above the ground, so that the vine protrudes 5 to 10 cm above the ground.

Planting distance

• In line: 1 meter
• Between rows: 1.5 to 1.8 meters