Oregon Wine Press Highlights Müller-Thurgau Produced in Yamhill-Carlton

Oregon Wine Press went on a quest to find the best Müller-Thurgau in Oregon, and they found Yamhill-Carlton to be a great source. With three different wines highlighted, we’re proud of our vineyards growing lesser known grapes.

Oregon Wine Press recently highlighted a rare grape in Oregon for a feature: Müller-Thurgau. In Müller-Thurgau Marvels, Tamara Belgard Turner investigates the history of the grape variety, and how it came to be grown in the Willamette Valley. Interviewing winemakers at both Anne Amie Vineyards and Kramer Vineyards in Yamhill-Carlton, you can see how different winemakers approach the grape, which used to be known as a neutral grape for blends but is increasingly seen in varietal wines.

Meet Müller-Thurgau: one of many grape varieties that was invented in Germany, Müller-Thurgau was created in 1882 at the Geisenheim Grape Breeding Institute (in the Rheingau region) by Hermann Müller. The Geisenheim institute created many grape varieties, but Müller-Thurgau is arguably the most famous, a grape created by crossing Madeleine Royale and Riesling. Because of its capability to grow in a wide variety of climates and produce fruity wine, it became very popular in Germany and was the main grape in Liebfraumilch wines.

Read the whole article to see more of how Müller-Thurgau is grown and produced at Anne Amie and Kramer in Yamhill-Carlton. “Anne Amie includes nearly nine acres of Müller-Thurgau, including some of the original 1979 plantings. Stylistically, theirs is fermented dry, more akin to bottlings from Italy. ‘We find it more versatile. It drinks great on its own as an aperitif, but it also pairs with a wide variety of foods,’ says Pearson. In fact, New York’s Gramercy Tavern once featured it by the glass.”

“Kim Kramer believes that Müller has become the MVP of their vineyard. ‘It’s one tough cookie, consistently giving us two to three times the yield compared to our Pinot Gris or Chardonnay grapes. Rain or shine, early or late harvest, this grape takes it all in stride,’ says Kramer. ‘We’ve come to rely on Müller-Thurgau’s resilience and ability to consistently produce top-notch grapes. It may not sound like a lot, but those two acres pack quite a punch,’ continues Kramer.”