Rotberger

Rotberger is a wine grape variety. Its parentage is not known with certainty but it is thought to be from a cross of Trollinger and Riesling grapes.^[1] Dr. Heinrich Birk (1898-1973) produced the cross at the Geisenheim Grape Breeding Institute in 1928. It is used to produce fruity, early maturing light red wines in cool-climate areas. It is often best drunk when young and can be used to produce a rosé or sparkling wine. It has no relationship with the Rotburger variety bearing a nearly similar name which is also known as Zweigelt.

Rotberger
Grape (Vitis)
Rotberger cluster in the field
Species	Vitis vinifera
Also called	Geisenheim 3-37, Redberger
Origin	Germany
Original pedigree	Schiava Grossa × Riesling
Notable regions	Baden, Württemberg, Ahr
Breeder	Heinrich Birk
Breeding institute	Forschungsanstalt Geisenheim, Fachgebiet Rebenzüchtung und Rebenveredlung
Year of crossing	1928
VIVC number	10230

Production of rotberger is quite small and primarily limited to Austria, Canada, Germany, and Liechtenstein.