The Rondo is a new breed from Geisenheim, which, strangely enough, was never able to gain a foothold in Germany and is only found in very small quantities there. Since it was specifically designed for cool climates, the largest areas of cultivation are in southern England at 39 hectares and Sweden at 20 hectares. Much smaller areas still exist in Poland, Belgium and the Netherlands. The Rondo saw the light of day in 1964 under the leadership of the Geisenheim scientist Helmut Becker, who was also the inspiration for other creations. The Rondo is a cross between Zarya Severa and St. Laurent and ripens very, very early, a particularly important criterion for cool and humid wine-growing regions. It shows great resistance to a wide range of vine diseases, particularly powdery mildew and less so to downy mildew. It is deep colored and is ideally suitable for aging in small oak barrels, especially those made of American oak.
