Ortega (grape)

Ortega is a grape variety used for white wine. It was created in 1948 by Hans Breider at the Bayerischen Landesanstalt für Wein-, Obst- und Gartenbau in Würzburg and was released with varietal protection in 1981.^[1] It is a cross between Müller-Thurgau and Siegerrebe.^[2] Breider chose to name the variety in honour of the Spanish poet and philosopher José Ortega y Gasset.

Ortega
Grape (Vitis)
Color of berry skin	Blanc
Species	Vitis vinifera
Also called	Würzburg B 48-21-4
Origin	Germany
Notable regions	Rheinhessen
VIVC number	8811

Ortega ripens early, is not sensitive to frost and reaches quite high must weights, typically 20 degrees Oechsle higher than Müller-Thurgau. It is therefore often used for sweet wines, which are considered to improve with cellaring. Ortega wines have aromas of Muscat and peach and are high in extract.^[1]

Ortega is also used as a table grape.

In 2016, there were 475 hectares (1,170 acres) of Ortega in Germany, with a decreasing tendency.^[3]