The historic Weinhaus building in Mainz can be found in the old town. Credit: Muriel Stadelmann
The Mainz folk love making a pilgrimage to Weinhaus Bluhm – also because of Murielle! The popular restaurant should actually be called “Chez Murielle” – that would probably be more appropriate. The Bluhm wine house in the 300-year-old, crooked half-timbered house is situated in the romantic old town. It already had a long tradition beforehand – but then in 2016 Murielle arrived!
Muriel Stadelmann with her father Pierre. Credit: Muriel Stadelmann
Together with her father Pierre, a legendary restaurateur from Mainz, they didn’t just spruce up the historic wine house – they reinvented it. The interior is reminiscent of an Alsatian “Winstub”. Murielle’s paintings set artistic accents, the guests are spoilt by the French dishes with Rheinhessen references. The selected wines offer a vinological pleasure just the way wine lovers want it.
An artist par excellence
And Murielle? “I never run out of ideas!”, she announces with her typical smile. In her cheerful manner, she is a “total work of art”: The daughter of French parents, she was born in Neustadt an der Weinstrasse in the Palatinate and grew up in Mainz. She studied linguistics in Vienna and worked as a simultaneous interpreter and speaker. She also trained in classical singing and acting. Murielle spent 15 years on stage at the Burgtheater in Vienna and was a convincing mezzo-soprano. She also worked as an actress in productions by Christoph Schlingensief, for example.
The singing chef
Cooking has been her passion from an early age. When the “singing chef” returned to Mainz to live with her father, she also excelled as a singer at the opera in Munich. There she cooked up a storm at premières. Her fine French cuisine shines with classic dishes such as Pierre’s legendary fish soup or “steak tartare” – with meat from Rheinhessen. She has even shown off her culinary skills in front of the camera in SWR cooking programmes. For special occasions, Murielle cooks Vietnamese dishes with the recipes her grandfather brought back from his time in Indochina.
The interior design appears tastefully arranged. Credit: Muriel Stadelmann
The wines she chooses to accompany these dishes come from winegrowers with whom Murielle knows personally: wines from the Palatinate, Rheinhessen, Rheingau, France and the Nahe. In the past, she used to enjoy giving cooking courses in her show kitchen. But nowadays she hardly ever gets round to it. The “Quer durchs Bluhm” evenings are legendary. Before the restaurant closes its doors for a few days, the restaurant offers to its guests something special: a “leftover dinner” with up to 15 courses derived from whatever the fridge has to offer.
Rheinhessen joie de vivre
If you visit the Bluhm wine house, you shouldn’t be afraid of making new acquaintances – everyone is expected to sit closer together. And if time permits and the mood is right, the “Singing Cook” may sometimes create a late night goosebump atmosphere by performing a song or two: Jazz, chansons or Israeli songs.
Works of art are an eye-catcher in the Weinhaus Bluhm. Credit: Muriel Stadelmann
You can’t help but feel completely at home in Weinhaus Bluhm – just like the guests illustrated in Pieter Bruegel’s “Peasant Wedding”: The impressive print of the famous Dutch renaissance painting, measuring 5 metres across the entire width of the second room of the wine bar. This was made possible by kind permission from the Vienna Museum of Art History.
Art is omnipresent here: Murielle also has her own paintings printed on bags. In summer, guests can sit outside “on the Gass” in true Rheinhessen style.
The prize for the Great Wine Capitals Best of Wine Tourism Award 2024 in the “Art and Culture” category goes to “Weinhaus Bluhm”. The unique performance of wine, culinary delights and culture in a historic setting completely won over the jury.
More information
To learn more about “Weinhaus Bluhm” visit the website.
About the blogger:
TV- and wine journalist Wolfgang Junglas is responsible for tv broadcasts such as “The Election of the German Wine Queen” in the entertainment editorial department at SWR Television in Mainz. He is also a writer, president of Weinfeder e. V., president of FIJEV and lecturer at Geisenheim University, Geisenheim.
Learn more about Rheinhessen and its wine capital Mainz on their page: Mainz | Rheinhessen