Variety
RedFrühburgunder
Also known as: Pinot Madeleine, Pinot Noir Précoce
Pinot Noir's mutation ripening two weeks earlier – darker, more velvety, less acid-driven. An Ahr speciality, rare in the Pfalz and Rheinhessen.
Portrait
Frühburgunder, French Pinot Noir Précoce, is a mutation of Pinot Noir that ripens earlier. In Germany it was cultivated mainly on the Ahr; Rheinhessen, Pfalz and Rheingau have smaller plantings. Cultivation declined sharply in the 20th century; virus-free clones from the Geisenheim breeding institute from the 1970s revived interest.
The vine buds early and ripens early; it gives low yields and is prone to frost and rot. It prefers slate, loam and limestone soils in sheltered sites. The wines are deeper in colour than Spätburgunder, with cherry, blackberry and almond, with soft tannin and moderate acidity.
Frühburgunder goes with poultry, duck, mushroom dishes and mild hard cheeses.
Taste profile
Six axes — acidity, sweetness, body, tannin, aroma intensity and depth — on a 0–5 scale, based on typical style. Real wines vary by region and producer.
Typical aromas — Frühburgunder
These 5 aromas typically define Frühburgunder. Actual taste experience varies by region and style.
Black cherry
Blackberry
Bitter almond
Vanilla
Forest floor
Frühburgunder aroma families
These aroma categories are characteristic of Frühburgunder. Other varieties have different focuses.
Fruit aromas are the most common and come directly from the grape, ranging from citrus through stone fruit to black berries.
Wood and toast aromas emerge from aging in oak barriques or larger wooden barrels.
Tertiary aromas that develop with bottle aging – typical of mature top wines.
Key regions
Frühburgunder is grown in the following regions of our atlas. Click to see wineries.
Wineries with Frühburgunder
66 curated profiles in our atlas grow Frühburgunder.
66 wineries
Weingut Kreuzberg
Ahr · Mittlere Ahr (Ahrweiler–Dernau–Rech) · Dernau
Spätburgunder, Frühburgunder, Riesling
Weingut Bertram-Baltes
Ahr · Mittlere Ahr (Ahrweiler–Dernau–Rech) · Dernau
Spätburgunder, Frühburgunder
Weingut Benedikt Baltes
Franken · Mainviereck (Bürgstadt–Klingenberg) · Klingenberg am Main
Spätburgunder, Frühburgunder, Silvaner
Weingut Fürst
Franken · Mainviereck (Bürgstadt–Klingenberg) · Bürgstadt
Spätburgunder, Frühburgunder, Riesling
Weingut Glaser
Franken · Volkacher Mainschleife · Nordheim am Main
Silvaner, Riesling, Spätburgunder
Kloster Marienthal
Ahr · Mittlere Ahr (Ahrweiler–Dernau–Rech) · Marienthal
Spätburgunder, Frühburgunder, Riesling
WeinGut Paul Schumacher
Ahr · Mittlere Ahr (Ahrweiler–Dernau–Rech) · Dernau
Spätburgunder, Frühburgunder
Weingut Peter Kriechel
Ahr · Mittlere Ahr (Ahrweiler–Dernau–Rech) · Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler
Spätburgunder, Frühburgunder, Riesling
Weingut Sermann-Kreuzberg
Ahr · Obere Ahr (Altenahr) · Altenburg
Spätburgunder, Frühburgunder, Riesling