Dornfelder Red Wine + Rosé Wine Buy in the Online-Shop of the Wine Estate
Grape Variety Dornfelder – Deep Colour and Fruity Aromatics
Dornfelder is one of the best-known and most popular red grape varieties in Germany. This deeply coloured modern crossing from Weinsberg developed into a real success story in German viticulture, particularly during the 1990s.
Dornfelder wines at Weingut Fuchs show a pleasantly mild acidity and a pronounced fruity character with notes of cherries and dark berries. The tannins usually appear soft and rather restrained.
Typical Dornfelder red wines display an intense deep dark red colour. As a rosé, the variety also produces rich and vibrant shades.
Dornfelder Rosé and Red Wines
At our estate you will find several Dornfelder wines: two powerful Dornfelder red wines as well as a rosé wine. The wines impress with their fruit-driven style and their attractive colour.
Dornfelder Vineyard Sites at Weingut Fuchs
Most of our Dornfelder vines grow in the Rheinhessen part of the estate. They thrive on the fertile, deep soils of the Dalsheimer Sauloch as well as in vineyard sites around Nieder-Flörsheim. These locations meet the variety’s high nutrient requirements and its need for warmth.
Facts About the Dornfelder Red Wine Variety
Origin of Dornfelder
Dornfelder was bred in 1955 by August Herold at the State Teaching and Research Institute for Viticulture and Fruit Growing in Weinsberg. It is a crossing of Helfensteiner (Pinot Précoce x Trollinger) and Heroldrebe (Portugieser x Lemberger).
Originally, Dornfelder was intended as a deeply coloured blending variety to enhance the colour of lighter red wines. However, it has since developed into an independent and widely cultivated red grape variety.
Since the 1970s, Dornfelder has been grown mainly in Rheinhessen and the Palatinate, where soils and climatic conditions suit the variety particularly well. After an initially cautious spread, it gained acceptance among both winegrowers and wine lovers. Today, Dornfelder ranks among the most widely planted red grape varieties in Germany.
The variety’s tendency towards high yields also led to its use in large-scale wine production. Low-priced Dornfelder wines are often sold in the discount segment and typically lack the structure and density of carefully produced quality wines.
Characteristics of the Variety
Dornfelder is a vigorous and comparatively robust red grape variety. However, producing high-quality wines requires suitable sites and careful vineyard management. Warm, nutrient-rich soils are particularly favourable, while very sandy or stony locations are less suitable. Due to its relatively early budbreak, warm vineyard sites with little risk of late frost are preferred.
We control the strong growth of our Dornfelder vines through pruning and canopy management. To achieve the desired concentration of flavour and colour, yield regulation is essential.
The grapes ripen moderately early and are typically large with a loose bunch structure. The round berries have thick, dark blue skins and produce an intensely coloured juice that gives the wines their characteristic deep red appearance.
Dornfelder vineyards are easily recognised by the reddish hue of the foliage during the ripening period. As colour development begins in the berries, the leaves of the vines also turn visibly red.
Price per bottle (0.5 l) incl. 19% VAT plus shipping fees
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions about the Grape Variety Dornfelder
Does Dornfelder have high acidity?
Dornfelder wines usually show a rather mild and pleasant acidity. This gives them a round and harmonious character on the palate.
Is Dornfelder coloured artificially?
No. Dornfelder is not coloured. Its intense colour comes from the particularly pigment-rich grape skins as well as from the naturally very dark juice of the berries.
Is Dornfelder always a sweet red wine?
No. Dornfelder can be vinified in both dry and sweet styles. Depending on the winemaking approach, the wines range from powerful, structured reds to fruit-driven, easy-drinking styles.
Is Dornfelder a tannin-rich red wine?
The tannins of Dornfelder are usually soft and rather restrained. With good ripeness and careful yield regulation, however, the variety can also produce dense and structured red wines.
“Als langjähriger Kunde haben mich die Produkte des Weingutes Fuchs sehr überzeugt. Der Versecco dry hat meine Gäste voll überzeugt. Der alte Weinbrand ist ein Genuss. Wir können das Weingut Fuchs nur weiterempfehlen..”
