Bred in 1969 in Württemberg and named after a local poet, Justinius Kerner, it is a crossing of Trollinger and Riesling. Compared with Riesling, Kerner can be grown in less favorable sites and yields more.

It ripens in early October. The wines are fresh, racy and fruity — not unlike Riesling — yet milder in acidity, with a more pronounced bouquet, often with a Muscat tone. The largest vineyard areas of Kerner are in the Pfalz, Rheinhessen, Württemberg and Mosel-Saar-Ruwer regions.