Hardly anyone knows the Helfensteiner, but many know the grape variety for which it was the inspiration, the Dornfelder. The Helfensteiner was created in 1931 from a cross between the Pinot Noir Précoce and the Schiava Grossa, which is widely represented in Württemberg under the name Trollinger. The variety was not named after its creator, August Herold, but after a castle ruin near Geislingen in the Swabian Alb. It matures medium to late, but has good resistance to powdery mildew, downy mildew and sour rot. While the vineyard area of the Helfensteiner's offspring, the Dornfelder, has increased dramatically in recent years, the Helfensteiner has to make do with just under 20 hectares, mainly in Württemberg.
This grape variety is also known by the name of:
Blauer Weinsberger
