The white grape variety is a new breed between Pinot Noir x Pirovano 1 (Chasselas Rose x Muscat d’Hamburg), which was confirmed by DNA analyses published in 2012. Synonyms include false flower, Geisenheim 15-114, Schönberger, and Schönburger Rose. The crossing of the parent variety was carried out by the Italian breeder Alberto Piròvano (1884-1973). The crossing with Pinot Noir was conducted by the German vine expert Dr. Heinrich Birk (1898-1973) in 1939 at the Geisenheim Research Institute in the Rheingau in Germany. The name is derived from the Schönburg castle on the Rhine in Oberwesel in the German wine region Mittelrhein.
The early to mid-ripening vine has reddish berries. It is resistant to frost and both mildew types. The variety produces a spicy, rather low-acid white wine with a subtle muscat note, which somewhat resembles a Gewürztraminer. Due to its special aromatic properties, it is referred to as a bouquet variety. In Germany, it occupies 16 hectares; further stocks exist in Australia (0.1 ha), Brazil, England (9 ha), Canada (14 ha), and South Africa. In 2016, a total of 35 hectares of vineyard area were recorded (Statistics Kym Anderson).
Source: Wine Grapes / J. Robinson, J. Harding, J. Vouillamoz / Penguin Books Ltd. 2012
Images: Ursula Brühl, Doris Schneider, Julius Kühn Institute (JKI)
