Scheurebe (Sämling 88)

A picture shows grapes of the grape variety Scheurebe
© AWMB / Oberleitner

Origin: Germany, Landesanstalt für Rebenzüchtung, Alzey

Parentage: Bred in 1916 by Georg Scheu as a “sämling”, or seedling, from Riesling (or a still unknown variety) at the Landesanstalt für Rebenzüchtung in Alzey. Scheu numbered all of his young plants consecutively, and this particular one was Seedling Number 88 – thus the name Sämling 88, a synonym for the “Scheu Vine”, or Scheurebe.

Vineyard area: 398 ha, 0.9 %. Grown mostly in Burgenland and the Steiermark. Between 1999 and 2009, the variety's total vineyard surface in Austria dropped by 25% – therefore, its importance is in decline.

Important ampelographic features
Leaf: medium-sized, circular, deep-lobed
Grape cluster: medium-sized; cylindrical; shouldered; dense, round yellowish-green berries with a typical nutmeg-nuanced Sämling flavour.

Ripening time: mid-season

Importance, conditions: Waning in importance. At the Neusiedlersee (Lake Neusiedl), the TBA, Strohwein and Schilfwein styles are vinified. Requires good vineyard sites; sturdy with a high tolerance for dryness and limestone and very resistant to winter frost.

Wine: Only fully ripe grapes bring full-bodied wines. With unripe grapes, the Sämling tone is obvious and unpleasant. When highly ripe, Prädikat wines are possible.