Every other month, our 5 to Try series showcases five examples of stellar wines from varying wine styles, grapes, and Germany’s 13 winegrowing regions. This month’s spotlight is on the white variety, Müller-Thurgau!
This variety was created by Dr. Hermann Müller of Thurgau, Switzerland in 1882 at Geisenheim in Germany. Dr. Müller crossed Riesling and Madeleine Royale grapes with the goal of producing a variety that ripened early in Germany’s cool climate and provided consistent yields.
The resulting Müller-Thurgau, also known as Rivaner, is known for its dry, light and refreshing profile with a delicate floral bouquet and mild acidity. Today, the grape accounts for about 11% of the total vineyard area in Germany with 11,453 hectares as of 2020.
1. Fritz Müller Perlwein Müller-Thurgau Trocken, Rheinhessen
This semi-sparkling wine, or perlwein, comes from Fritz Müller in Rheinhessen. The brand is a joint project between Guido Walter and Jürgen Hofmann that began in 2009 in order to offer a new take on Müller-Thurgau. The wine features notes of green apple and grapefruit as well as a delicate nutmeg note.
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2. Markgraf Von Baden Birnauer Müller-Thurgau Trocken, Baden
From a 130-acre winery in Baden, Markgraf Von Baden Birnauer Müller-Thurgau features notes of green apple and blackcurrant. The Margrave family has participated in the tradition of winegrowing since 1802 and have been recognized as a great influence on the winemaking practices throughout the region since.
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3. Rainer Sauer Müller-Thurgau Gutswein Trocken, Franken
Grown on limestone soil that dates back 230 million years in the Franken region, Rainer Sauer Müller-Thurgau offers notes of jasmine and yellow stone fruits. Weingut Rainer Sauer’s 14-hectares of vineyards are planted to 20% Müller-Thurgau grapes, making it the second most populous grape on the estate.
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4. Schlossmühlenhof ‘Boden Funk’ Müller-Thurgau, Rheinhessen
Schlossmühlenhof’s “Boden Funk” Müller-Thurgau is a natural wine created by the sixth generation of the Michel family in Rheinhessen. The estate primarily focuses on ecologically healthy farming practices and in 2019 introduced their “Boden Funk” wines, an experimental range with a low intervention approach. The grapes for this wine are sourced from 25-year-old vines.
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5. Jan Matthias Klein ‘Sandersstruck’ Müller-Thurgau, Mosel
Jan Matthias Klein has taken a new approach to the age-old tradition of winemaking. This Mosel winery has made use of an unfined, unfiltered and hand-bottled process, resulting in varying levels of CO2. Jan Matthias Klein ‘Sandersstruck’ Müller-Thurgau is a natural orange wine with a rose, tangerine and apple bouquet paired with a lively acidity.
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Plan on trying these wines? Let us know what you’re drinking by tagging @GermanWineUSA!
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