Pinot Meunier (Schwarzriesling) Red Wine
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Pinot Meunier – Fine-Fruity Elegance

Pinot Meunier is an old grape variety belonging to the Burgundy family.

In Germany it is grown only on a relatively small scale, whereas in Champagne Pinot Meunier is the most widely planted grape variety.

Despite its German name “Schwarzriesling”, Pinot Meunier is not related to Riesling, as the name might suggest. It is a member of the Burgundy grape family.

Pinot Meunier grapes produce velvety wines with fruity nuances of cherry, raspberry and red currant, combined with soft acidity. The red wines display a bright ruby colour.

We vinify Pinot Meunier both dry and off-dry. In both styles the variety shows its pleasant, versatile character as a food companion.

Pinot Meunier Sites at Weingut Fuchs

We cultivate Pinot Meunier on both sides of the border between Rheinhessen and the Palatinate in particularly warm, early-ripening vineyard sites. On the Niederflörsheimer Steig in Rheinhessen and in the Einselthumer Klosterstück in the Palatinate, the variety finds sheltered locations that allow it to reach full ripeness.

Origin of Pinot Meunier

The ancestors of Pinot Meunier originate from Burgundy. It is not entirely clear whether it represents an original form of the Burgundy family or developed as a mutation of Pinot Noir. Other close relatives include Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc.

The German synonym “Müllerrebe” (“Miller’s grape”), still used in the official vineyard register, refers to the fine hairs on the shoot tips and the undersides of the leaves, which appear as if dusted with flour.

In Champagne, Pinot Meunier is one of the key grape varieties for sparkling wine production.

Characteristics of the Variety

Pinot Meunier places high demands on site and climate. It thrives particularly well on deep, fertile soils with sufficient water availability.

The variety buds relatively late and is therefore less susceptible to late spring frost. At the same time, it requires a long growing season in order to reach full ripeness.

Pinot Meunier is not a high-yielding variety; even in favourable years with a long, warm autumn, harvest volumes tend to remain moderate. The compact, medium-sized grape clusters carry small, dark-coloured berries with pale flesh. When fully ripe, they produce elegant red wines with fine fruit and a harmonious overall impression.

Alongside Riesling, Pinot Meunier is regularly among the last grape varieties to be harvested in a given vintage.