Müller-Thurgau
Germany's most-planted crossing for much of the 20th century, bred in 1882 to marry Riesling's aromatics with earlier ripening. Soft, floral and easy-drinking.
About Müller-Thurgau
Müller-Thurgau was created in 1882 by Swiss-born botanist Hermann Müller (of the canton of Thurgau) at the Geisenheim institute, intending to fuse Riesling's intensity with earlier, more reliable ripening. He believed he had crossed Riesling with Silvaner, but DNA fingerprinting in 2000 revealed the true parentage as Riesling × Madeleine Royale. Vigorous, early-ripening and cold-hardy, it spread rapidly and by the late 20th century was Germany's most-planted grape, underpinning oceans of soft, semi-sweet bulk wine. Its reputation suffered accordingly. Yet in careful hands and lower yields it gives a genuinely charming wine: floral, gently grapey, with peach and apple fruit and mild acidity. Still widely grown across Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Alto Adige and increasingly England, it remains a workhorse white that rewards restraint.
Variety profile
Editorial notes
Drink young and fresh; the best examples come from low-yield sites in Baden, Franken or Alto Adige rather than bulk-wine regions.