Fritz Müller

MAIN GRAPE VARIETIES:
Müller-Thurgau
SOIL TYPES:
Löss / Kalkstein / Porphyr

Dolce Vita in Munich was always accompanied by a glass of Prosecco, while in the early 2000s, “Müller Frizzante” became the apéritif trendsetter in Northern Italy. This led wine merchant and sommelier instructor Guido Walter to ask himself: Why not bring the typically German grape variety Müller-Thurgau into our glasses as a bubbly, too?

After all, this Riesling × Madeleine Royale crossing, when yields are reduced, produces delicately fruity and floral wines with an invigorating muscat aroma. A perfect fit for the “Perlwein” (semi-sparkling wine) category, which was revitalized in Germany thanks to “Fritz Müller.” With Rheinhessen winemaker Jürgen Hofmann as a partner and an iconic label design, “The Fritz” quickly developed into a favorite on the German wine scene.

For production, Hofmann relies on old vines from his family estate, as well as from fellow winemakers in the traditional wine village of Appenheim. This allows this Perlwein to offer an unprecedented price-performance ratio in its category. Fresh, fruity, forward in style, the wine was soon showered with praise from the press. Since then, the range has expanded to include a rosé version, a fruit-driven sparkling wine made using the méthode rurale, and a non-alcoholic Fritz.

“The German answer to Prosecco.
        A knockout for the price!”
STUART PIGOTT
(WINE JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR)