Müller-Thurgau

Müller-Thurgau, commonly known in Switzerland as Riesling-Silvaner (though it is actually a Riesling × Madeleine Royale cross), is the dominant white grape of German-speaking Switzerland. Named after the Swiss botanist Hermann Müller from the canton of Thurgau who created it in 1882, it has a particular Swiss pedigree despite being widely planted in Germany and Austria.

The grape produces aromatic, floral wines with moderate acidity — approachable, easy to drink, and best consumed young. In Zürich, Schaffhausen, and Thurgau, it often shares vineyard space with Pinot Noir and is the go-to white wine at local restaurants and Beizen.

While it rarely achieves the complexity of Chasselas or Petite Arvine, good Müller-Thurgau from top producers shows genuine character — notes of elderflower, green apple, and a subtle herbaceous quality that pairs well with asparagus and light Swiss dishes.