ケルナー｜Kerner

Kerner is a crossing of Trollinger and Riesling, bred in 1969 in Württemberg and named after a local poet, Justinius Kerner. Compared with Riesling, it can grow in sites with less favorable conditions and guarantees a higher yield.

In 1970 the grape started to spread across several winegrowing regions in Germany,  reaching its peak in 1990 (7,5%). In 2018, only 2,4% of all vineyards are planted with Kerner, mostly in the Pfalz, Rheinhessen, Württemberg and the Mosel.

It ripens later than Müller-Thurgau but earlier than Riesling. The wines are fresh, racy and fruity — not unlike Riesling — yet milder in acidity, with a more pronounced bouquet, often with a Muscat tone.