Müller-Ruprecht Orange 2024

The Land:

Müller-Ruprecht is based in Kallstadt, a historic village in Germany’s northern Pfalz, sharing prime vineyard land with its well-known neighbor, Koehler-Ruprecht. The estate farms organically and is in the final stages of certification, having eliminated pesticides and herbicides in 2006 in favor of mechanical weed control. Their parcels include holdings in the famed Saumagen vineyard, known for producing wines with electric acidity and striking minerality. While Koehler-Ruprecht leans toward texture and power, Müller-Ruprecht’s style is sharper, more linear, and vibrantly fresh, showcasing the cooler, high-energy side of the region’s terroir.

The Wine:

A skin-contact blend of Huxelrebe, Gewürztraminer, and Chardonnay, the 2024 Müller-Ruprecht Orange spends 10 days fermenting on the skins before aging in large neutral oak barrels. Bottled unfiltered and unfined, it remains intentionally cloudy, with fine lees lending a touch of texture to its feather-light 10.5% ABV. Aromatically, it’s a wild mix of orange blossom, jasmine, ripe citrus, and stone fruit, framed by sharp acidity and a subtle tannic grip. It’s an exhilarating, refreshing expression of natural winemaking—pure energy in a bottle.

The People:

Sabine Wöhrwag and Philipp Ruprecht took over the family estate in 2020 with a clear vision: to craft wines of precision and joy while preserving the land for their children. The family’s roots in Kallstadt go back centuries, and their approach blends deep regional knowledge with a sense of curiosity and experimentation. Their wines—whether structured single-vineyard Rieslings from Saumagen or effortlessly drinkable natural bottlings—capture the kinetic, joyful spirit of their young family. At Müller-Ruprecht, winemaking isn’t just about tradition; it’s about vibrancy, connection, and, above all, happiness.