Liebfraumilch is a German white wine made in a semi-sweet style using at least 70% of one or more of these grapes: Riesling, Silvaner, Müller Thurgau, and Kerner. The name translates to “milk of our Lady”, in reference to the wine’s origin in the 16th century when it was made from fruit harvested from vineyards around a gothic church called Liebfrauenkirch (Church of our Lady) in the town of Worms. According to legend, pilgrims travelled to this church to visit a statue of the Virgin Mary, that was known to perform miracles, and were received by the monks with a glass of their delectable wine. Liebfraumilch was considered one of the great wines of its time, but the lack of laws protecting its production allowed winemakers to use the name for the inexpensive, overly sweet wines that have given it a bad reputation. In the 1980’s, Germany established several restrictions like the use of the four white grapes and the geographical limits where it can be produced (only including the regions of Nahe, Pfalz,Rheinhessen or Rheingau)
Nowadays, many producers like Schmitt Sohne are implementing higher quality standards to produce Liebfraumilch. Their version balances acidity and sweetness in a fresh and fruity style that is perfect for spicy dishes like sushi rolls, Indian curry or Thai food.
Author: Maytte Rivera
