Variety
WhiteSilvaner
Also known as: Sylvaner, Grüner Silvaner
Traditional variety with subtle spice and strong site fidelity – on loess in Rheinhessen, deep and serious wines emerge.
Portrait
Silvaner is an old Central European variety, arising from a natural cross of Traminer and Österreichisch Weiß. In Franconia it has been documented since the 17th century and was long regarded as the region's most important grape. Plantings in Rheinhessen are among the oldest and largest in Germany, and Pfalz also has notable acreage.
The vine buds early and is therefore exposed to spring frost, ripens mid-season and gives neutral wines at high yields. On limestone, Muschelkalk and Keuper, as in Franconia, it yields dense, mineral wines with restrained fruit. Rheinhessen and Pfalz mostly produce fresh, herbal wines with gentle acidity.
Silvaner is an excellent food companion that goes with asparagus, fish, poultry and regional dishes; high-quality single-site wines keep for several years.
Taste profile
Six axes — acidity, sweetness, body, tannin, aroma intensity and depth — on a 0–5 scale, based on typical style. Real wines vary by region and producer.
Typical aromas — Silvaner
These 5 aromas typically define Silvaner. Actual taste experience varies by region and style.
Quince
Pear
Fresh peas
Herbs
Walnut
Silvaner aroma families
These aroma categories are characteristic of Silvaner. Other varieties have different focuses.
Fruit aromas are the most common and come directly from the grape, ranging from citrus through stone fruit to black berries.
Herbal aromas can be finely aromatic (sage) or grassy – a stylistic feature in some varieties, ripeness indicator in others.
Mineral notes are considered terroir-typical, emerging from soil, acidity and pH.
Key regions
Silvaner is grown in the following regions of our atlas. Click to see wineries.
Wineries with Silvaner
281 curated profiles in our atlas grow Silvaner.
281 wineries
Weingut Keller
Rheinhessen · Wonnegau · Flörsheim-Dalsheim
Riesling, Spätburgunder (1, 5 ha)
Weingut Horst Sauer
Franken · Volkacher Mainschleife · Volkach
Silvaner, Riesling, Müller-Thurgau
Fürstlich Castell'sches Domänenamt
Franken · Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) · Castell
Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Riesling
Weingut Wittmann
Rheinhessen · Wonnegau · Westhofen
Riesling, Silvaner, Weißburgunder
Weingut Heymann-Löwenstein
Mosel · Terrassenmosel · Winningen
Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
Weingut Rainer Sauer
Franken · Volkacher Mainschleife · Escherndorf
Silvaner, Riesling, Müller-Thurgau
Weingut Fürst Löwenstein
Franken · Mainviereck (Bürgstadt–Klingenberg) · Kreuzwertheim
Silvaner, Riesling, Spätburgunder
Weingut Weltner
Franken · Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) · Rödelsee
Silvaner, Riesling, Scheurebe
Weingut Max Müller
Franken · Volkacher Mainschleife · Volkach
Silvaner, Riesling, Scheurebe