Variety
WhiteKerner
A Trollinger × Riesling crossing (1929), named after poet Justinus Kerner – Riesling-like but rounder, with a muscat note. Strong on the Mosel and in Württemberg.
Portrait
Kerner was bred in 1929 in Weinsberg by August Herold as a cross of Trollinger and Riesling and named after the poet and physician Justinus Kerner. The variety spread widely in Germany from the 1960s, mainly as an alternative to Müller-Thurgau with better acidity and frost hardiness.
The vine buds late and is therefore little exposed to spring frost, ripens early to mid-season and is robust against winter frost. It thrives on many soils, including cooler sites. The wines are fruity with apple, peach, muscat and lively acidity, with a Riesling-like profile. Sweet qualities are common.
Kerner goes with asparagus, fish, salads and light cooking and is mostly drunk young.
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 — Kerner
These 5 aromas typically define Kerner. Actual taste experience varies by region and style.
Apple
Pear
Nutmeg
Citrus
Apricot
Kerner aroma families
These aroma categories are characteristic of Kerner. 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.
Floral aromas are especially marked in aromatic varieties like Riesling and Gewürztraminer.
Spicy aromas often emerge from oak aging (vanilla, clove) or with maturity (black pepper).
Key regions
Kerner is grown in the following regions of our atlas. Click to see wineries.
Wineries with Kerner
202 curated profiles in our atlas grow Kerner.
202 wineries
Weingut Groehl
Rheinhessen · Rheinhessen-Mitte · Weinolsheim
Riesling, Spätburgunder, Pinot Noir
Staatsweingut Weinsberg
Württemberg · Heilbronner Land · Weinsberg
Riesling, Spätburgunder, Chardonnay
Weingut Christoph Clüsserath
Mosel · Mittelmosel · Trittenheim
Riesling, Spätburgunder, Weißburgunder
Weingut Hubertus M. Apel
Mosel · Obermosel · Nittel
Riesling, Spätburgunder, Chardonnay
Weingut Bert Wechsler Erben
Rheinhessen · Wonnegau · Osthofen
Riesling, Spätburgunder, Chardonnay
Weingut Klaus Zimmerling
Sachsen · Dresden & Pillnitz · Dresden
Riesling, Grauburgunder, Weißburgunder
Weingut Freiberger
Hessische Bergstraße · Heppenheim · Heppenheim
Riesling, Spätburgunder, Chardonnay
Clemens-Ferdinand
Mosel · Terrassenmosel · Ediger-Eller
Riesling, Spätburgunder, Weißburgunder
Vinum Autmundis (Odenwälder Winzergenossenschaft)
Hessische Bergstraße · Bereich Umstadt · Groß-Umstadt
Riesling, Spätburgunder, Sauvignon Blanc