Fritz Muller
Rheinhessen, Germany
“Germany’s answer to the Prosecco...a smash hit for the price!”
- Stuart Pigott, German Wine Writer
Fritz Müller is a project created by Munich wine-retailer Guido Walter of Walter & Son and winemaker Jürgen Hofmann. In 2009, Guido asked Jürgen, “can Müller-Thurgau do La Dolce Vita?”
While the whole world was quaffing Prosecco, Müller-Thurgau, the grape that had been associated with mass produced wines such as Black Tower and Blue Nun, had become dated and forgotten. Despite this, vintner Jürgen Hofmann, husband of Carolin Hoffman of Willems-Willems in the Saar and winemaker at his own eponymous estate in the Rheinhessen, never doubted the potential of this robust vine. His father had cultivated it around their home village of Appenheim, a fairytale area where the shell limestone vineyards add depth to the grape variety. Perhaps Müller Thurgau simply needed a re-imaging.
Enter Müller-Thurgau as a frizzante – in short: Fritz Müller, a skillfully handcrafted semi-sparkling wine.
Fritz Müller is a semi-sparkling “perlwein” made using the charmat process where CO2 generated from fermentation is recaptured and put back into the wine, giving it a gentle sparkle. The wine is made from Jürgen Hofmann’s old vines from around his home village of Appenheim as well as the vines of friends and neighbors nearby. The wine is bottled with a cool, retro 1920’s design label.
Our Selections
Fritz-Müller Müller-Thurgau Perlwein Trocken NV
100% Müller-Thurgau from vines planted to a mixture of loess, limestone and clay surrounding the picturesque village of Appenheim in the Rheinhessen. The wine is light straw yellow with lovely green highlights and offers fresh-fruity aromas of pear, apple and grapefruit. Mild and well balanced on the palate with exotic aromas and a delicate hint of nutmeg. The light sparkle adds a refreshing and clean note. Perfect on it’s own as an aperitif or add Aperol to make a “Fritz-Spritz,” a play on the Venetian Apero.
11.5% Alc, 14.5 g/l RS, 7 g/l acidity
Fritz-Müller Rose Perlwein Trocken NV
A blend of Portugieser and Pinot Noir from vines planted to loess, limestone and clay around the village of Appenheim. A lovely bright pink in appearance with ruby highlights. On the nose, the wine features red fruit aromas such as red currant and raspberry. The palate has citrus, dark berry and spice flavors with a refreshing sparkling finish.
11.5% Alc, 11.7 g/l RS, 6.9 acidity
Fritz-Müller Müller-Thurgau Alcohol-Free Perlwein NV
This deliciously fruity, lightly sparkling, alcohol-free “wine” is made from 100% Müller-Thurgau grapes. This alcohol-free version was vinified from the same grapes as the Fritz-Müller semi-sparkling wine, then was de-alcoholized through a process known as vacuum distillation. This version is refreshing, fizzy and frivolous and completely uncomplicated. Wonderfully pure, it is best enjoyed chilled to 8°C, on the rocks, or as an ingredient in virgin cocktails.
Pale straw yellow with green highlights. Fresh, fruity aromas of green apple and grapefruit. Mild and harmonious in flavor with exotic notes and subtle Muscat nuances.
> 0.3 % alc | 7 g/l acidity | 49 g/l RS
Not Available in NY State