Dornfelder

Dornfelder is a deeply coloured red grape from Germany, producing wines packed with blackberry, black cherry and plum alongside gentle spice and floral notes. It can range from dry to slightly sweet, with soft tannins and plenty of fruit, making it brilliant with burgers, sausages, roast pork, pizza, BBQ food and tomato-based pasta.

Taste:

Dark in the glass, juicy in the glass, very easy to get on board with.

Dornfelder is typically light to medium-bodied, with soft tannins, fresh acidity and plenty of ripe fruit. Expect blackberry, black cherry, plum and sometimes raspberry or red cherry, often joined by violet and gentle spice.

The important thing to know is that Dornfelder isn't always completely dry. Styles can range from dry and fresh to softer wines with noticeable residual sweetness, so checking the label is worth the extra five seconds.

Oak-aged versions can bring more structure and flavours of vanilla, toast or spice, while unoaked styles tend to keep all that juicy fruit firmly in the spotlight.

Deep colour, soft tannins, loads of fruit. Bit of a people-pleaser, really.

Food Pairings:

Dornfelder’s juicy fruit and softer tannins make it a great match for relaxed, flavour-packed food.

Try a dry Dornfelder with burgers, bratwurst, grilled sausages, roast pork, pork chops, roast chicken or BBQ chicken.

Pizza is another great match, particularly pepperoni, sausage, mushroom, prosciutto or meat feast.

For pasta, try lasagne, spaghetti bolognese, meatballs in tomato sauce, sausage pasta or other rich tomato-based pasta dishes.

It also works well with BBQ food, including burgers, sausages, pork and grilled chicken.

For meat-free options, pair it with mushroom pasta, mushroom risotto, roasted vegetables or lentil dishes.

If your Dornfelder has some sweetness, spicy sausages and mildly spicy dishes can work particularly well with the ripe fruit.

For cheese, try Gouda, Brie, Camembert or medium-strength Cheddar.

Similar Wines:

If you enjoy Dornfelder, Regent is a great next move for another deeply coloured, fruit-forward German red.

Spätburgunder shows a more elegant and earthy side of German red wine, while Zweigelt offers juicy fruit with a little extra spice.

If it's the light, fruity and approachable character you love most, Gamay is also well worth exploring.

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More About Dornfelder:

Dornfelder is a relatively modern German grape, created in 1955 by grape breeder August Herold in Württemberg.

It was originally developed partly to bring deeper colour to German red wines, and it certainly understood the assignment. Dornfelder's deeply pigmented skins produce much darker wines than many traditional German red varieties.

Today it's grown particularly in regions such as Rheinhessen and the Pfalz and can be made in a range of styles, from fresh, fruity reds designed for early drinking to richer versions matured in oak.

German wine isn't all Riesling.

Dornfelder would very much like that added to the minutes.