The red grape variety (also Weinsberg S 341) is a new variety between Helfensteiner x Heroldrebe (which was confirmed by DNA analyses published in 2012). The crossing was made in 1955 by August Herold (1902-1973) at the Weinsberg Teaching and Research Institute in Württemberg (Germany). The plant variety protection was granted in 1979. The name goes back to Immanuel A. L. Dornfeld (1796-1869), after whose initiative the viticulture school in Weinsberg was founded. The variety Hegel was created with the same parents. Dornfelder was a cross-breeding partner of the new varieties Acolon, Cabernet Dorio, Cabernet Dorsa and Monarch. Dornfelder is one of the most successful German new varieties.