Top 100 white wines of Franken
Discover the top 100 best white wines of Franken as well as the best winemakers in the region. Explore the varietals of the white wines that are popular of Franken and the best vintages to taste in this region.
Franken, or Franconia in English, is a wine-growing region in the northwest of Germany's historic state of Bavaria. Though Bavaria may be more famous for its beer, Franken boasts a proud viticultural tradition and is one of the most unique regions in the country.
There are just over 6,100 hectares (15,073 ac) of vines Planted in Franken and around 80 percent of these are white Grape varieties. Here, Riesling plays second fiddle to the often overlooked Silvaner and Müller-Thurgau.
Indeed, Silvaner lays claim as Franken's leading grape variety and is one of the only places in the world where it outperforms Riesling.
This area is also home to the distinctive Bocksbeutal, an ellipsoidal bottle that is protected by the European Union. More than 40 percent of all Franken wines are bottled in the Bocksbeutel, which is often described as flagon-like in appearance. Only Franken and nearby villages in northern Baden are allowed to use the Bocksbeutal, with selected areas in Portugal, Italy and Greece permitted to employ their own variations.
The Main river cuts a weaving path through the best wine-producing villages, with south-facing Vineyards lining its banks. The many tributaries to the Main are also influential and help mitigate the cold winter temperatures brought about by the continental Climate. The river defines the region's three Bereichs, which are named after various geographical indicators: Mainviereck (Main square), Maindreieck (Main triangle) and Steigerwald (Steiger forest).
Franken has a wine-making history that dates back at least 1,200 years, with evidence that Emperor Charlemagne approved a document describing the borders between the towns of Randersacker and Würzburg in 779.
The sylvaner is grown mainly in Germany and Alsace. The buds are somewhat cottony and the young leaves are green. The same applies to the ribbed branches. Once mature, the dominant colour is golden-green and small elliptical berries with small to medium-sized bunches can be seen. The ripe fruit is then adorned by five-lobed leaves. This variety is susceptible to chlorosis, gray mold, powdery mildew and mildew. It is also sensitive to frost and wind because of its long branches. It can be grown in any kind of soil, although it prefers stony, sandy and light soils. It is indeed moderately acidic and offers a complex set of aromas such as bitter almond, fruity and floral background. The taste has an excellent mixture of honey and candied or dried fruits.
white wines from the region of Franken go well with generally quite well with dishes of veal, pork or vegetarian such as recipes of roast veal with milk and rosemary, magic cake cheese quiche or magic cake cheese quiche.
On the nose in the region of Franken often reveals types of flavors of grapefruit, citrus or apples and sometimes also flavors of peach, minerality or apricot. In the mouth in the region of Franken is a with a nice freshness.