Origin: Prior is a fungus-resistant red wine variety bred in 1987 by Norbert Becker at the Staatlichen Weinbauinstitut Freiburg.

Interbreeding: (Joannès-Seyve 23-416 x Pinot Noir) X Bronner 

Characteristics: Piwi variety grows upright and strong with many tendrils. The flowering time is early. Prior reaches ripeness late, while must weight development is very slow. The susceptibility to couluring and stem rot is very low. The percentage of rot is low. But beware: the visually hard, robust berry skin is initially very stable, but when fully ripe, the berry skin disintegrates relatively quickly. Therefore, it is essential to keep an eye on the harvest date.

Grape: The grapes are medium in size and very wide. The berries are medium size with gelatinous pulp and medium dense arrangement. The berry skin is very hard.

Wine: The wines are powerful, rich in color and have strong tannins. They also have a dense, substantial body and bring warmth and reverberation to the palate.

Cultivation: The variety should be planted in good vineyard sites with sufficient ripening time. Prior is not very susceptible to late frost.