Ortega (grape)
Ortega | |
---|---|
Grape (Vitis) | |
Color of berry skin | Blanc |
Species | Vitis vinifera |
Also called | Würzburg B 48-21-4 |
Origin | Germany |
Notable regions | Rheinhessen |
Ortega is a grape variety used for white wine. It was created in 1948 by Hans Breider at the Bayerischen Landesanstalt für Wein-, Obst- und Gartenbau in Würzburg and was released with varietal protection in 1981.[1] It is a cross between Müller-Thurgau and Siegerrebe.[2] Breider chose to name the variety in honour of the Spanish poet and philosopher José Ortega y Gasset.
Ortega ripens early, is not sensitive to frost and reaches quite high must weights, typically 20 degrees Oechsle higher than Müller-Thurgau. It is therefore often used for sweet wines, which are considered to improve with cellaring. Ortega wines have aromas of Muscat and peach and are high in extract.[1]
Ortega is also used as a table grape.
In 2006, there were 686 hectares (1,700 acres) of Ortega in Germany, with a decreasing tendency.[3] It is also found in England.
Vineyards producing wines from Ortega
Court Garden Vineyard & Winery, Court Gardens Farm, Orchard Lane, Ditchling, East Sussex, BN6 8TH[4]
Fenny Castle Vineyard, Panniers Farm, Castle Lane, Worth, Wells, Somerset, UK [5]
Larch Hills Winery Canada, Blue Grouse Winery on Vancouver Island[6]
References
- 1 2 Wein-Plus Glossar: Ortega, accessed January 23, 2013
- ↑ Vitis International Variety Catalogue: Ortega, accessed on April 13, 2008
- ↑ German Wine Institute: German Wine Statistics 2007-2008 Archived September 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ http://www.courtgarden.com/contact.html
- ↑ http://fennycastlevineyard.co.uk/the-vinyard/
- ↑ http://www.bluegrouse.ca/