An early ripening mutation of Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir). It is so different that in Germany it is classified as a separate variety.

Year of entry into the German Federal Office's Varieties Register: 1971
Area planted in Germany in :  hectares
Area planted in England: 

Wine Character - colour: ruby red, light red
                      - bouquet: 
                - palate: fruity, good body, the wine is softer and more velvety than Spätburgunder

Time of bud-burst: middle-late

Strength of growth: medium-strong
Growth of side-shoots: medium

Flowering time: late
Flowering strength: medium

Leaf: - size: medium                          - shape: 
        - colour: 
        - surface undulation:                 - petiolar sinus: 
        

Grape bunch: - size: small-medium     - density: tight
Berries:        - size: small-medium      - shape: 
                   - skin colour: blue-black, thick skin

Time of veraison: early
Time of harvest: in comparison with the classic Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) they ripen about 2 to 3 weeks earlier.
               Because of the early ripening the grapes usually need to be protected against birds by netting or other means.

Grape yield: low to very low; in Germany through intensive search in long test rows the Forschungsanstalt Geisenheim have developed one row of a new more productive clone.
               The tendency to coulure of this clone is relatively low, so it yields about 50 hl/ha.
Must-weight: high to very high
Must-acidity: low

Wood ripening: good
Winter hardiness: medium
Wood colour: 

Chlorosis resistance: 
Susceptibility to - Oidium: low to medium       - Peronospora: 
                       - Botrytis: medium, suffers less because it is harvested early in the damp autumn but it may have to be picked early if botrytis is bad.
                       - Roter Brenner: 
                       - Phomopsis                        - Stem-atrophy: 
       

Preferred soil: open texture, fertile and porous (well drained),
                    according to Geisenheim it needs a good to mid-early site, it is susceptible to wasp attack so avoid planting near woods and hedges.
Suitable rootstocks: SO4 or 125AA (according to Geisenheim)

Normal stem height: 
Normal row spacing: 
Vine spacing in the row: 

Winter Pruning:                eyes/buds per sq. metre of land occupied by the plant

Advantages: early ripening.

Disadvantages: Low yield, only moderate flowering strength. Susceptible to wasp attack. The red wine character is different from Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder).

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