Ortega is a grape variety used for white wine. It was created in 1948 by Hans Breider at the Bayerischen Landesanstalt für Wein-, Obst- und Gartenbau in Würzburg and was released with varietal protection in 1981.[1] It is a cross between Müller-Thurgau and Siegerrebe.[2] Breider chose to name the variety in honour of the Spanish poet and philosopher José Ortega y Gasset.
Ortega ripens early, is not sensitive to frost and reaches quite high must weights, typically 20 degrees Oechsle higher than Müller-Thurgau. It is therefore often used for sweet wines, which are considered to improve with cellaring. Ortega wines have aromas of Muscat and peach and are high in extract.[1]
Ortega is also used as a table grape.