The red grape variety is a new variety between Madeleine Angevine x Teinturier(Teinturier du Cher) according to DNA analyses published in 2012. The parentage Blue Portuguese x Teinturier indicated by the breeder has been found to be incorrect. Synonyms are Froelich V 4-4, color grape Froelich and purple. The cross was made by the private breeder Gustav Adolf Froelich (1847-1912). For many decades the variety remained unnoticed and was used as "Froelich V 4-4" in breeding stations. In the 1930s it was ampelographically processed at the Geisenheim Research Institute and was given the name Dunkelfelder by Dr. Helmut Becker (1927-1990), alluding to its unknown origin and the dark colour of the wine. Plant variety protection was granted in 1980. The vine is sensitive to frost, drought and downy mildew. It produces deep dark, colourful red wines, which makes it very suitable for use as a teinturier (dyer's grape). In Germany it occupies 227 hectares of vineyards with a decreasing tendency (D-STATIS). There are other stocks in Switzerland (23 ha), England and Canada (2 ha). In 2016, a total of 291 hectares of vineyard area were designated (Kym Anderson).
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