

Comments
Thanks for the Ortega reference, Brad.
The parentage of Muller-Thurgau has been unclear. Dr. Hermann Muller for which the variety was named crossed Riesling and Sylvaner. Or so he believed. Some enologists believed it was actually a cross of two strains of Riesling. Recent DNA analysis now shows that one parent is Riesling and the other is Chasselas also known as Fendant or Gutadel.
Muller-Thurgau is a cross between Riesling and Gutadel (not Sylvaner). Gutadel itself is an ancient grape.
Ortega is named after the Spanish philosopher Jose Ortega y Gasset.
Hi Ryan,
Yes, it’s probably the producer. Even Marechal Foch and De Chaunac can produce good wines in the right hands. Not to forget Alicante Bouchet!
I love the grape Ortega or at least I loved one bottling I had back in the states. I think I still have a bottle or two stashed. It was an beerneaulese with tons of lychee fruit goodness. On the other hand this was probably the only Ortega I’ve had and with all the richness it showed at the time I look forward to seeing how it aged.
ryan
I also enjoy Ortega wines, specially the sweet ‘Berenauslese’ Ortega’s made with botrytised grapes.
I discovered them while I was living in Germany in the 90’s, visiting little family cellars in the Palatinate. Yes, it is debouted to Spanish philosopher Ortega y Gasset, who wrote his PhD in Germany and was member of the Spanish Parlament during the 2nd Spanish Republic in te 30’s.
I do not mean to compare them with a good 5 putonios Tokaj or a premier cru Sauternes, which are quite differente in character, but I found those Ortega’s pretty nice.
Fran
I love the grape Ortega or at least I loved one bottling I had back in the states. I think I still have a bottle or two stashed. It was an beerneaulese with tons of lychee fruit goodness. On the other hand this was probably the only Ortega I've had and with all the richness it showed at the time I look forward to seeing how it aged.
ryan
We need wine by Goya. Oh Boy-a!