WARENKORB

The Stefan Müller winery is located at the entrance to Krettnach, in the heart of the so-called "Konzer Tälchen" (Conz valley). Viticulture has been practiced in this former meander valley of the Moselle (yes, the Moselle, as the mouth of the Saar into the Moselle near Konz is just a stone's throw away) for over 2,000 years. The winemakers here have experienced many ups and downs during this time. In the 1960s and 70s, the valley experienced a real boom. Large quantities of inexpensive mass-produced wines were produced here in the rather flat vineyards, typical for the Saar region. However, wine production was a tightrope walk, because due to its relatively high altitude, the valley has always had a comparatively cool climate. What proves extremely useful today in times of climate change was a major problem back then, as many vineyards were extremely frost-prone and the grapes simply did not ripen in many years. Today, however, the Saar region in general and the Konzer Tälchen in particular are two of the few wine-growing regions that benefit enormously from climate change. The grapes ripen perfectly year after year, and thanks to the still comparatively cooler climate, cool-tasting Rieslings can be produced here in the Konzer Tälchen even in hot years like 2015 or 2018. In addition to the typical blue Devonian slate soils of the Saar, there is a special feature here. Especially in the vineyards around Krettnach, such as Altenberg and Euchariusberg, a volcanic rock called diabase is increasingly common – a peculiarity that is otherwise only found in such quantities in Saarburger Rausch.



"Riesling TANDEM - The subtly tart beginning of a unique success story"

In 2012, at just over 20 years old, young winemaker Stefan Müller took over the family business after several internships abroad in Europe and overseas. He turned everything upside down: Level plots were replaced wherever possible with steep hillside plots, yields were massively reduced, and hand-picking and meticulous selection in the vineyard have been the method of choice ever since. The use of any weed control agents and industrially produced fertilizers was abandoned. Today, Stefan Müller focuses on managing his vineyards as naturally as possible. He tries to strengthen the natural biodiversity in the vineyard and the natural defenses of the vines through the use of natural fertilizers and plant strengtheners, thus minimizing the need for plant protection measures. He also rediscovered traditional winemaking methods in the cellar. He gradually repurchased traditional oak vats, which had given way to modern stainless steel tanks years ago. And in his very first vintage, 2013, Stefan Müller banished all "winemaking aids" such as pure yeast cultures and fermentation aids from the cellar, utilizing the potential of naturally occurring yeasts (the so-called spontaneous fermentation process) and produced the first wine of the new winery, named TANDEM, together with his wife Johanna. The label features the bicycle of the same name with two seats, symbolizing the collaboration between Stefan Müller, a trained viticulture technician, and his wife, the sommelier Johanna Lapinksi. It is a juicy quality wine, subtly dry, which clearly sets the style of the house.



"Stefan Müller Winery - Gault Millau Discovery of the Year 2018"

By foregoing maceration and using whole-grape pressing – the direct processing of perfectly intact berries after harvesting – the Stefan Müller winery produces precise and unadorned Rieslings with crystal-clear fruit. The wines are consistently extremely elegant, always have very low alcohol content, possess enormous aging potential, and are also extremely affordable. This unique combination has not escaped the notice of the republic's major wine guides, such as Gault & Millau and Vinum. After Stefan Müller was awarded the title of "Saar Young Winemaker of the Year" by a regional expert jury in 2016, the highest accolade followed in 2017: Gault & Millau's Discovery of the Year 2018. With this prestigious award, he finds himself in prominent company on the Saar, as only the top winery Van Volxem received this title before, in 2002. In the latest editions of the major wine guides, several Stefan Müller wines have been highlighted as offering the best price-enjoyment ratio. Today, in the third generation, he produces mainly Riesling (80%), but also Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir in the top vineyards Krettnacher Euchariusberg, Krettnacher Altenberg, Niedermenniger Sonnenberg and Niedermenniger Herrenberg, on just over 10 hectares of vines. Furthermore, the Stefan Müller winery was a founding member of "SAARKIND" in 2017. This rising association of 10 young winemakers is currently making a big splash and aims to contribute to the attractiveness of the Saar-Obermosel region with unusual events and activities.