The Winemaker Dr. Hermann Muller

Muller-Thurgau, Hermann Müller, Dr. Dr. hc, Professor, Director (1891-1924). * 21.10.1850 in Tagerwilen (Switzerland), † 18.01.1927 in Wädenswil (Switzerland). Married. Bending in 1881 with Bertha Oestrich / Rheingau, 3 daughters.

The plant physiologist Müller called himself Müller-Thurgau. His birthplace is located in the canton of Thurgau Tagerwilen. His father ran a bakery and was widely “Büürlibeck” to be known. Are small bread roll bread rolls.


Muller-Thurgau first visited the seminary in Kreuzlingen on Lake Constance and was elected in 1869 as a teacher at the urban high school in Stein am Rhein. He was educated at the Polytechnic in Zurich and graduated in 1872 with the further diploma from a professional teacher of Science. The best-known plant physiologist that time, Julius Sachs, invited him to work one to Würzburg in 1874 and already graduated Hermann Müller with the title “Summa cum laude”. Two years later, Müller-Thurgau, professor and head of the newly created Institute of Plant Physiology at the Prussian educational and research institute for wine, fruit and horticulture in Geisenheim.

1890, Müller-Thurgau the offer, a Swiss Research and Training Institute for Fruit Growing, Viticulture and Horticulture in Wädenswil to start on of Zurich. 1892-1924 he was also editor of Switzerland. Journal of orchards and vineyards. Awards: 1920 Dr. hc University of Bern, 1890 Honorary Member of the German Winegrowers’ Association.

From Geisenheim nachschicken 1891 he settled on the 150 most valuable later seedlings from which the Müller-Thurgau was selected. In 1894 the first two of the vines were planted seedling No. 58. Mueller was supported by Heinrich Schellenberg (1868-1967). A new variety, which was perfected by the Swiss Federal Research Station for Fruit-growing and viticulture in Wadenswil (Zurich).

As the “mother” was and Riesling as the “father” Silvaner accepted. Therefore also the synonyms Riesling-Silvaner, Rivaner, Thorks, Rizling Szilváni etc. Müller always refused to name the new Mueller-Thurgau grape. For this reason, the grape in Switzerland is still conducted mostly under Riesling x Sylvaner. Only after the Bavarian Breeders August Dern (1858-1930) introduced the vine in Germany around 1913, she received the name of Muller-Thurgau variety.

Even Hermann Müller himself was skeptical of the parents. It later became more and more doubts about the combination of Riesling x Sylvaner loud. The left intersection be reconstructed again. For a while, you even took a self-crossing of Riesling and Riesling.

Dr. Ferdinand Regner, wine school in Klosterneuburg, Austria, explained the situation in 1998 with a genetic investigation. It turned out that, although traces of Riesling are noticeable, but lacked the genetic material of Silvaner. Instead Chasselas was noted as a possible candidate for father. But scientists at the German Federal Institute for Plant Breeding Research in the Palatine Siebeldingen could refine the proof of ancestry. They recognized the variety Royal Madeleine as a father. A growing circle of the form of Chasselas (Chasselas).

The “Müller-Thurgau” – Vine is clearly the most successful new variety of the world. From the mid-20th Century it was common in almost all wine-growing countries around the world.

Here are some new varieties, developed from crosses with the Muller-Thurgau:

Bacchus, Cantaro, Faberrebe, Fontanara, Gloria, Gold Riesling, good Borner, Chancellor, Muscabona, Optima, Ortega, pearl, Regent, Reichensteiner, Schantl grape, Septimer, Tamara, Thurling and Reichensteiner etc. There are also mutations known (zBFindling).

In the Muller-Thurgau is a medium-strong, high yielding variety that can easily reach 100 hl per hectare. The force resistance to downy and powdery mildew and botrytis-rights is low. The vine likes rich soil and cool layers. The air requirements are low.

The leaves are medium, 5-lobed and deeply cut, toothed edge of the cove stick overlapping. The grape is rather large, usually conical and shouldered.

The wine is reminiscent of the rule of moderate quality and have something to nutmeg scent. The nutmeg is in wines from warmer layers barely detectable. The fruitiness is increasing in the south. The alcohol content is good, the weak acid – mild to medium bodied. Colour: pale – to pale yellow. Flavors: green apple, lemon, nutmeg, green peppers. The Müller-Thurgau wines are best drunk young.

Riesling x Sylvaner is as Muller-Thurgau is the main grape of the German-speaking eastern Switzerland. In this temperate zone, it delivers elegant, aromatic wines.

Hermann Müller-Thurgau was indeed fooled by the nature of something. He was a visionary and his work was groundbreaking for viticulture and winemaking. He was also actively involved in research on the vine diseases, while 1903 was the causative agent of fungal disease “red fire” identify.