Müller-Thurgau

Müller-Thurgau is a variety of white grape (Vitis vinifera) which was created by Hermann Müller from the Swiss Canton of Thurgau in 1882. It is a crossing of Riesling with Madeleine Royale. It is used to make white wine in Germany, Austria, Northern Italy, Hungary, England, Australia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, New Zealand, the United States and Japan. There are around 42,000 hectares (104,000 acres) cultivated world-wide, which makes Müller-Thurgau the most widely planted of the so-called "new breeds" of grape varieties created since the late 19th century.

History[edit | edit source]

Hermann Müller was born in 1850 in the Swiss canton of Thurgau. He studied oenology in Geisenheim, Germany, and later became a professor at the Geisenheim Grape Breeding Institute. In 1882, he created a new grape variety by crossing Riesling and Madeleine Royale, which he named Müller-Thurgau.

Viticulture[edit | edit source]

Müller-Thurgau is a vigorous vine, resistant to frost but susceptible to disease, including downy mildew, botrytis and sour rot. The best expressions of the variety are thought to come from vineyards with poor soils and lower yields.

Wine regions[edit | edit source]

Müller-Thurgau is grown in many of the world's wine regions. However, it is most commonly associated with Germany, where it is the second most planted grape variety.

Wine styles[edit | edit source]

Müller-Thurgau wines are usually consumed young and have a light, almost 'neutral' flavour compared with more aromatic grape varieties. They often exhibit a fruity, floral note, depending on the vineyard's soil and exposure.