Even though the name may suggest it, the name of this grape variety does not refer to the Heeresrufer, but to its creator August Herold, who developed it in 1929 from a cross between Blauer Portugieser and Blaufränkisch. The Heroldrebe was in turn part of the development of the now very successful Dornfelder. Because of its very late ripening, the herald vine only proves successful in the warmer wine-growing regions of Germany, especially in the Palatinate, Rheinhessen and Baden-Württemberg. It tends to produce quite high yields, which was particularly appreciated in Germany in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. It proves to be particularly resistant to downy mildew and the early-onset Botrytis cinerea, the so-called black or sour rot. Of the 155 hectares in total, part is also processed into rosé, otherwise into a light, fresh and young-drinking red wine.
