Zuletzt geändert: 29.04.2009

From the origins of the Müller-Thurgau grape

For someone called Hermann Müller (as common as Smith or Miller), it made sense to hyphenate it with a further name. This is what went through Herr Müller’s head when he created a new vine. The creator of the Müller-Thurgau grape was born in 1850 in Tägerwilen, very close to us, in our canton Thurgau. Following his education as plant physiologist and professor, he entered the Prussian Research Institution in Geisenheim, Germany and started experimenting with various types of grape.

As early as 1890 he founded the Swiss experimental and teaching Institute for wine and horticulture. He was determined to combine the merits from several vines in order to build up the rather unsuccessful wine business around Lake Constance. The stroke of genius arrived with trial shoot number 58. From this he planted the first 2 vines in 1894 and then continually multiplied the vine.

Originally the „mother“ of the grape was believed to be Riesling and the „father“ Sylvaner – hence the name Rivaner in some areas. Even Hermann Müller wasn’t sure. There could be no certainty on the matter. Then 100 years later, DNA testing defined the origins. The mother is indeed Riesling, the father Gutedel, a light, pleasant and agreeable usually dry wine.

This new fruity wine took the world by storm. The Müller-Thurgau became the most successful new cultivation of the 20^th century in Japan, New Zealand and the USA, along with the whole of Europe. At some times it was the most planted vine in Germany.