Grape Variety: Kerner

Colour: White

A cross between the red grape Trollinger and the white grape Riesling - wines produced from Kerner are not dissimilar aromatically to Riesling and possess sufficient acidity to allow ageing. This grape is popular with growers for two reasons - (1) it buds late meaning that frosts do not pose a danger to the vine as much as much they do to other later-budding grapes. and (2) it can thrive and ripen well in almost any region, and also it can produce very ripe grapes, the name of this grape comes from the German doctor and wine lover Justinus Kerner (1786-1862) who produced this grape by crossing Trollinger and Riesling. In 1990, Kerner overtook Sylvaner as Germany’s third most-planted grape variety. Kerner also found in the German-speaking South Tyrol region of Italy and planted in small quantities in South Africa and Canada. The Kerner from Cantina Produttori Valle d’Isarco (Chiusa, Alto Adige) is a superb example of this grape with aromas of ripe green apples and citrus fruits, the tell-tale characteristics of Riesling underpinned by the strong mineral and nutty textures of cool-climate Italian wines. This rich, complex wine can tame most dishes - we recommend it with pot-roasted partridge with spinach and an array of root vegetables, otherwise wild trout or salmon with a sorrel sauce would make a fine accompaniment. Lusciously plush defines our Kerner from Kofererhof (Varner Alto Adige) which smells of tangerine and lychees and tastes of peach, apricot and honey. This wine has plenty of complex nuances and a medium-to full-bodied texture, and is completely mouthfilling whilst being at the same time dry and beautifully crisp with a whiff of grassiness and surprising persistence on the palate. This would work particularly well with Szechuan food.