Juwel is a white wine-grape variety bred in 1951 by German agronomist August Herold, at the Weinsberg wine school in Wurttemberg. It is a crossing of Kerner and Silvaner, and shares its pedigree with Silcher, also bred by Herold. Unfortunately, Juwel was nowhere near as successful as its parents, which (behind Riesling) are Germany's two most widely planted white wine grapes.
Herold, a prolific grape breeder, had created Kerner some 20 years earlier. He went on to create Dornfelder (now one of Germany's more significant red wine grapes).
In the early 21st Century, Juwel plantings are few and far between, and the variety teeters on the verge of extinction - at least in commercial vineyards. The few remaining Juwel vines are to be found primarily in Rheinhessen. A little is also grown in Austria, where it is usually blended with Blaufrankisch (Lemberger) to make a rosé.
The name means "gem" in German. It allegedly also doubles as a carefully constructed synthesis of Ju (from Herold's nickname "Jupp"), we (from Weinsberg) and l, standing for Lauffen am Neckar, where the crossing was made.
Food matches for Juwel include:
- Onion tart
- Chinese pork bun
- Pad Thai
