Robert Bell's
Wines of Canada
Since 1992
Ehrenfelser
How often would you go into a wine shop. or restaurant an order a Ehrenfelser Wine!
According to the 2023 BC Wine Grape Council Crop Assessment, Ehrenfelser accounted for 106.74 short tons of grapes harvested, which is a modest portion compared to major varieties like Pinot Gris (992.02 short tons) and Chardonnay (489.42 short tons).
Ehrenfelser is extremely rare in Ontario. While exact percentages aren’t published, available data from the Grape Growers of Ontario and Wine Growers Ontario shows that Ehrenfelser is not listed among the major or even minor varieties grown in the province
Germany: Once planted on 630 acres in 1999, Ehrenfelser has declined to around 225 acres today. It’s mostly found in the Palatinate and Rheinhessen regions
Ehrenfelser is a white wine grape variety of German origin. It was created by Dr. Heinrich Birk (1898-1973) at the Geisenheim Grape Breeding Institute in 1929, by crossing the varieties Riesling and Silvaner , with the identification of Silvaner being somewhat uncertain.
Several vineyards in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia also grow Ehrenfelser, including Cedar Creek, Lake Breeze, Gray Monk, Gehringer Brothers, Mount Boucherie and Summerhill. The grape tends to ripen earlier and produce higher yields than Riesling but its quality is not on par with that of this, its parent grape. Your taste buds will find sweet grapefruit, green apple and a hint of honey.
Among thoses producing a Ehrenfelser wine are Summerhill Pyramid Winery, Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards and Gehringer Brother.
Summerhill obtains the grape from the hot, southern Okanagan region of Osoyoos at Inkameep Vineyards, thus providing richness, depth, and tropical undertones.
2023 Optimum Dry Ehrenfelser by Gehringer Brothers
On the nose, ripe Okanagan apricots and white peaches, with hints of cucumber and honeydew. Gooseberries and cherry blossom round out the fresh and crisp nose. On the palate, the honeydew, apricot and white peach continue with a lift of lychee. Subtle fine tannin adds weight giving the wine length and persistence with a dry and clean finish.
At one time when one refered to Ehrenfelser the region was Germany today it is the Okanagan of British Columbia, Canada
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