The Winery Willi Schmitt of Franken

Discovering the wine region of Franken

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.