Bianka and Daniel Schmitt started making wine together in 2012 with the joint desire to use low intervention techniques to find a balance between man and nature. They farm 17 hectares in southern Rheinhessen, with plots that cover various soil types. The couple are part of a wave of natural winemakers who have emerged over the last decade in Rheinhessen, the largest of Germany’s 13 winegrowing regions. The pair farm an impressive range of gra- pes, from varietals typical for the area such as Müller-Thurgau, Riesling and Scheurebe to international stars like Chardonnay and Merlot, as well some of Bianka’s favourites from Hungary – Blaufränkisch and Furmint.
Müller-Thurgau 2021 is a light, aromatic wine with a slightly slower fermentation period than previous vintages. Easy drinking, unfiltered and with just the right balance of fruit and acidity. The grapes were hand harvested in late September, with 50% pressed directly and the rest left on the skins for two weeks before ageing in big oak barrels for almost a year. This wine shows the true potential of Müller-Thurgau, a grape with a mixed reputation but plenty to offer.