**Dornfelder** is a red grape bred in Germany in 1955, a deliberate crossing designed to give the country's cool vineyards a variety with deep colour and reliable ripeness. **In the glass** — it is prized precisely for its inky, dark-purple hue, offering juicy black cherry and blackberry fruit, soft tannins, medium body and gentle acidity that make it approachable and easy to drink. **Where it grows** — Germany is its heartland, particularly the Pfalz and Rheinhessen regions, where it ranges from simple fruity quaffers to more ambitious oak-aged bottlings; small plantings exist in England and elsewhere in northern Europe. **At the table** — happy alongside roast pork, sausages and hearty weeknight fare. **Cellaring** — most versions are made for early, cheerful drinking, though the more structured, barrel-aged examples can hold for several years.
Wines
- Cuvée Red Dealcoholised — Carl Jung
- Dornfelder Rheinhessen Qualitätswein — Peter Mertes KG Weinkeller
- Karl Pfaffmann — Weingut Karl Pfaffmann
- PLATZhirsch — Kochen & Platz
Frequently asked questions
What wines are made from Dornfelder?
Cuvée Red Dealcoholised, Dornfelder Rheinhessen Qualitätswein, Karl Pfaffmann, PLATZhirsch.