Reichensteiner

Definition - What does Reichensteiner mean?

Reichensteiner is a white grape that was bred in Germany in 1939. It is a cross between Madeleine Angevine and Müller-Thurgau. The yields are high and has the benefit of low acidity and neutral flavors once it is vinified. It is also botrytis resistant, a quality that allows grape growers to stretch their lower late harvest yields of other varieties.

WineFrog explains Reichensteiner

The Reichensteiner grape was originally a cross of the Madeleine Angevine grape and the Early Calabrese grape in 1939.

It is mainly grown in the Rheinhessen region of Germany, but it is also found in New Zealand and England. While it is interesting because of its low acidity, the wines made from it have more alcohol content than the other cold-climate varieties from Germany. This characteristic makes it an ideal blending grape to increase alcohol levels in other wines.