Franken Wine Buy
The finest Franken wines are traditionally bottled in a Bocksbeutel, which is a squat green or brown flagon with a round body and short neck. This makes it easily recognisable and has become the hallmark of the region's wines. The Franken wine region borders the Rhön in the north, the Steigerwald in the east, the Taubertal in the south and the Spessart in the west.
franken wine buy
The centre of the wine growing region is the baroque festival town of Würzburg, home of the famed vineyard Stein, which gave rise to the generic term Steinwein, formerly used to denote all Franken wines. Franconian wines are generally fuller-bodied, less aromatic, often drier, firmer, and earthier.
Franconia (German: Franken) is a region for quality wine in Germany[1] situated in the north west of Bavaria in the district of Franconia, and is the only wine region in the federal state of Bavaria. In 2014, vines were grown on 6,176 hectares (15,260 acres) of land in the region.[2]
The greater part of the wine region is situated in the Regierungsbezirk of Lower Franconia around its capital Würzburg along the Main River. There are a few areas in Middle Franconia, mainly in the Steigerwald; and a very small part in the area of Upper Franconia around Bamberg. The bends of the River Main have been used to define the region's three districts, two of which take their names from their respective geometric shape.[3]
The Mainviereck ("Main square") is the westernmost district of Franconia, on the lower slopes of the Spessart hills and is one of the warmest spots in Bavaria. The special soil is mainly red sandstone which is especially suitable for growing grape vines for red wine. Franconian vine plantings for red wine started to expand in the 1970s.[4]
The Pinot noirs and the rare but high quality grape Frühburgunder are grown. The "Bürgstadter Centgrafenberg" and the "Schlossberg" in Klingenberg am Main are said to be the best vineyards.[by whom?] Some of the wines made from vines grown there have won national and international wine trophies. The most important villages are Bürgstadt, Großheubach and Klingenberg am Main.
The Maindreieck ("Main triangle") is the middle portion of Franconia. On the sometimes very steep hills alongside the Main river, the soil mainly consists of Muschelkalk. Mostly Silvaner and Müller-Thurgau grapes are grown. As in many wine regions in Germany, a wide variety of grapes are cultivated. Riesling, Bacchus, Pinot noir, Domina, and Dornfelder are the most important grapes besides Silvaner and Müller-Thurgau. Some wine journalists say that Franconia is the only place in the world where the Silvaner wine can be better than the king of German wines, the Riesling.[5]
The best-known vineyard site is the Würzburger Stein, a hill north of central Würzburg. The wines from there are known as Steinwein. Along the Maindreieck, nearly every town produces some wine. The earliest evidence of the Silvaner grape is found in the archive of Castell in a document from 10 April 1659.
The soil of the Mittelgebirge Steigerwald consists mainly of gypsum. The wines of this region often have a very strong mineral taste. The most important villages are Iphofen, Rödelsee and Castell
There is evidence that wine has been produced in Franconia for over 1,000 years. In an old document from the year 777 there is a note of a winery being given by Charlemagne to Fulda Abbey. This is the town of Hammelburg. In medieval times the area under cultivation grew strongly, up to 40,000 ha. In the 20th century it decreased at one stage to just over 2,000 ha.
Today about 6,100 ha of land is used for growing wine. The area stretches from Bamberg to Aschaffenburg. The climate is called continental with Mediterranean influence. Quite often there are strong winters and temperatures under 0 degrees Celsius in the spring. Therefore, wine is grown mainly in especially protected places usually along the hills of the River Main and the Steigerwald.
Because of the special soil and the mild climate along the Main river, wines with a very high mineralisation can be harvested. The amount of minerals in the wine is a factor in the quality testing every Franconian wine is subjected to. This is unique in Germany. The majority of the wines are made from one grape variety at a time. Cuvées are rare. It is said that the wines of the typical Silvaner are the best wines from this grape in the world.
Most Franconian wines are dry. Although in German law dry wines are allowed 9 grams of residual sugar, many German wineries are still using the term Fränkisch trocken (Franconian dry) for wines with 5 grams of residual sugar or less. About 12,000 to 14,000 wines from Franconia pass the official testing.
Franconian wines vary in how long they can be kept. The basic wines, which are called Qualitätswein or Kabinett are made to be drunk one to three years after production. If they are kept too long, the wines lose their typical fruitiness and freshness. The best wines are mainly the dry Spätlesen which are full-bodied and can mature for up to six, sometimes ten years. The rare sweet wines often with noble rot, and Eisweins, can sometimes mature for 50 years or more. Oak matured red wines should be drunk three to ten years after production if kept in a good wine cellar.
The rounded and flattened Bocksbeutel is the typical and well known bottle originally used only for the best Franconian wines. Since 1989 the use of the Bocksbeutel has been protected by European Union regulations, but some other regions beside Franconia are also allowed to use this bottle shape.
The growing of wine influenced the lifestyle of the people living in the area. Unlike many other German wine regions, a large amount of Franconian wine is drunk in the area where it is produced. Nearly every town has its own Weinfest, a festival that lasts a weekend, or sometimes just one day, where wine is drunk instead of beer. The so-called Heckenwirtschaften are very popular small outlets where wineries sell their own wine, usually at low prices.
The Franken wine growing region borders the Rhön in the north, the Steigerwald in the east, the Taubertal in the south and the Spessart in the west. It comprises 6,137 hectares of vineyards, 82% of which are white varieties. Silvaner in particular thrives on the limestone and keuper soils and is a flagship grape here. Fine-aromatic Müller-Thurgau, the grape variety closely surpassing Silvaner, is experiencing a renaissance in the hands of young winemakers. The next most planted grape is Bacchus, a regional specialty.
The center of the growing region is the baroque festival town of Würzburg with the heritage-listed Residence and medieval Marienberg fortress. Famous historical vineyards surround the town such as the Würzburger Stein, which was the source of one of Goethe's favorite wines. Most of the traditional Würzburg wineries offer a visit of their extensive cellars and the opportunity to savour their fine wines with gourmet cuisine amidst impressive architecture.
The Franconians are proud of their rich history, which you will encounter at every turn on a journey through this wine-growing region. The Middle Ages are also present in the smaller wine towns and in the country, for example in Miltenberg, Iphofen or Volkach. Weir walls, gables, towers, cobbled streets and romantic courtyards are worth discovering. The captivating Steigerwald is an idyll of half-timbered houses and lush green landscapes. The vinotheques with their local wine selections will also demand your attention, as will the modern wine architecture, the stylish tasting rooms and the spirit of optimism in this flourishing wine region.
here are many ways to experience the stunning wine landscapes of Franken. You can follow the Main River on a bike path, experience the meandering Volkacher Mainschleife from a raft, ride in a covered wagon and hike along panoramic mountain trails. A special experience for young and old is to help with the grape harvest. Franconians celebrate the end of the wine harvest with the same fervour that they then celebrate Federweißen (new wine) which marks the start of the next wine festival season around March. They know how to combine wine, cuisine and culture in an imaginative way. The diverse offer for connoisseurs offers unforgettable wine experiences and opens new horizons.
The Franconian passion for wine has won many awards, within Germany as well as internationally. Every year, winemakers prove again the quality of their wines, which convince with liveliness, freshness and the distinctive taste of Franken terroir.
Marketing: The regional cooperative cellars in Kitzingen and smaller cooperatives produce and market about 40% of the region's wine, the remainder is handled by private and state-owned estates. Exports play a minor role. Four out of five bottles of Franken wine are consumed within a 250-km/155-mile radius of where it is produced.
Signposted routes through wine country: There is no officially signposted Franconian Wine Road. The Romantic Road (driving) passes through the Franconian portion of the Tauber Valley, and the Main-Tauber-Fränkische Radachter (cycling) route includes wine villages northwest and southeast of Würzburg
Stretching along the River Main, a major tributary of the Rhine, the Franken region is a part of Bavaria and the wine can be just as good as the beer. The locals certainly appreciate it, meaning that relatively little is exported and the prices realistically reflect the quality on offer.
Silvaner is the most celebrated grape variety and the best is often sold in a Bocksbeutel, a squat and rounded bottle of green or amber glass peculiar to the region.The region is famous for Silvaner, which tends to be dry and the best examples are said to taste of the earth that produced the grapes. Red wine can be very good and is becoming more common, and sweet white wines of supreme quality are sometimes crafted. 041b061a72