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All about apples, pears, plums, and cherries - and orchards where they are grown

Golden Reinette apple

A very old European apple variety, widely grown in the 17th and 18th centuries and therefore worth trying simply for the historical interest.

Golden Reinette also looks attractive - but we don't think the flavor is anything special, although it is perfectly acceptable.

Like many old varieties Golden Reinette is resistant to the apple disease scab.

USDA identification images for Golden Reinette

The identification paintings in the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection span the years 1886 to 1942.

    Citation: U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705.

    Parents and other ancestors of this variety

    • Blenheim Orange (parent) - Golden Reinette is possibly a child of Blenheim Orange

    Visitor reviews

    • 12 Oct 2023 
      Just tried the "Gould Reinette" in the Netherlands. It is a medium large, slightly oblong green apple with a red blush. Tastes semi-sharp with decent apple flavour, so I can imagine it would be good for cooking. Texture on the one I tried was crisp with average juiciness, but I imagine they haven't been in storage for very long at this time of the year. Looked to me like it could be a triploid from the core development. I am always interested in finding good cooking apples, so this was a nice discovery for me. Would have liked to have had time to cook with it to see how it turned out.
    • 03 Jun 2022 
      This apple (Goudreinette in Dutch) is delicious cooked and pureed. This is widely sold as 'Appelmoes' in jars throughout the Netherlands, where it is used in both savoury and sweet dishes. It is a mystery to me, why this product has not become available here in the UK.
    • 05 Nov 2020  LONDON, United Kingdom
      Wasn't expecting too much given the comment in the main description but I enjoyed this apple which I obtained from Brogdale Farm in Kent (the National Fruit Collection). Apple was stored for about 2.5 weeks before eating. Attractive orangey red on one side and yellow on the other, smooth skin but with a little russeting at the top. The flavour and texture reminds me of Egremont Russet but less intense, and less sweet. If you like Egremont Russet but aren't keen on the texture of its skin this is definitely worth tasting.
    • 25 Apr 2010  Italy
      In Italy this apple is known as Renetta, derivating is name from the French word "Reine", that is "Queen", and its origin from the Loira Valley. Anyway, it is widely believed that every land has its own particular variety of this apple, still recognisable as a "renetta", but different enough in taste and other properties for the layman to tell, and for the expert to know from it comes from, as if were a wine, or a cheese. It is cultivated particularly in the regions of Val d'Aosta, Piedmont and Alto Adige (or Sud Tirol, as a large part of the inhabitants like to call it). We use it mostly cooked: baked with or without sugar and/or lemon, in the filling of tarts and strudels, or even fried in slices covered with fritter batter. It is believed healthier than most apples if eaten fresh, though isn't very tasty. It is harvested in September, and can be stored for months. In the process it refines its taste from sour to sweet. Being a Tolkien devotee, I like to believe that the apples offered in Minas Tirith to Pippin, "the last of the winter store, wrinkled but sound and sweet", were Reinettes.
    • 12 Feb 2010  HALLUM, Netherlands
      It's a very complicated story. If you search for the Golden Reinette in fruitdescriptions, you'll find the name Wijker Pippeling(or Orleans Reinett), a good winter-apple with brownish red flush, nutty flavour. First described as Pomme Madame in "Pomologia"from J.H. Knoop, 1758) Not to be compared with Wyken Pippin, which is a completely other, greenyellow variety from GB. Is this Golden Reinette aka Wijker Pippeling the parent of the Laxton Superb, or is this Wyken Pippin? Kasseler Reinette is also called GoldenReinette in the Netherlands, but this is another sort. Who helps me out here? I think this is a very interesting sort!
    • 24 Sep 2009  CINCINNATI, OH, United States
      Where can I get this variety of apple in the USA?
    • 15 Feb 2009  IJSSELSTEIN , Netherlands
      Thank you Tom
    • 09 Feb 2009  ST ALBANS, United Kingdom
      A little bit of help for non Niederlandse speakers:– G D is not same as Goudreinet AKA Belle de boskoop which is the best apple for apple puré or apple tart filling.
    • 05 Jan 2009  IJSSELSTEIN , Netherlands
      Dear Marianne This apple Golden Reinette,is not the same as Goudreinet wich is called Boskoop or Belle de Boskoop all over Europ.En dat is natuurlijk de beste appel voor appelmoes en appeltaart Teunis
    • 01 Dec 2008  WELL, THE , Netherlands
      Fine apple for baking and cooking. In the Netherland still the most used for apple pie. Not used fresh.

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    • Giles in HAMILTON, WAIKATO

    Poland

    Harvest records for this variety

    2015 season

    • 3rd week September  2015  - tree owned by Olivier in , Netherlands

    Origins

    • Species: Malus domestica - Apple
    • Parentage: Blenheim Orange ??
    • Originates from: France
    • Introduced: 1600s
    • UK National Fruit Collection accession: 2000-038

    Identification

    • Annual cycle: Deciduous

    Using

    • Picking period: early October
    • Wildlife: RHS Plants for Pollinators

    Growing

    • Pollinating others: Average
    • Ploidy: Diploid
    • Bearing regularity: Regular

    Climate

    • Summer average maximum temperatures: Cool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)

    Where to buy trees

    The following tree nurseries offer Golden Reinette apple trees for sale:

    • Keepers Nursery
      United Kingdom  More >>

    Where to buy fresh fruit

    The following orchards grow Golden Reinette:

    United Kingdom


    Canada




    References

    • Apples of England (1948)
      Author: Taylor

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