Once again the Geisenheim Grape Variety Days 2018 held at Hochschule Geisenheim University offered the interested public an exciting program, this time devoted to the grape varieties of the future – and, as usual during the two-day event, there was also the chance to taste experimental microvinification wines produced by the Department of Grapevine Breeding. This year the focus was on fungus-resistant varieties and the wide range of different Riesling types. Talks on rootstocks, PIWIs and Burgundies gave a good overview.

On 3 and 4 September 2018 numerous visitors were invited to discover the world of Geisenheim’s Riesling gene database; to date well over 1000 Riesling selections have been planted as part of the project for the preservation of genetic resources at Hochschule Geisenheim University’s Department of Grapevine Breeding. The search for old vine material is a continual process aimed at preserving the genetic diversity of many important traditional grape varieties. Apart from Riesling, this also includes the whole spectrum of the Burgundy family and old grape varieties such as Traminer, Elbling, Heunisch, Räuschling and the Gelbe Orleans.

New breeds also came under scrutiny during the tours and tastings: New fungus-resistant varieties are now opening up new avenues for the future with their Peronospora-resistance, low susceptibility to Botrytis and loose grape structure.

Interested visitors could also find out about Burgundy variations from Geisenheim, as well as Merlot and Cabernet under the motto “Naturalising exotics: our answer to climate change”.