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Franconia

Franconia is the home of Silvaner and the Bocksbeutel flask: 6,100 hectares along the Main from Aschaffenburg to Schweinfurt, on shell limestone, Keuper and red sandstone. Dry, earthy-spicy wines with clear provenance – and in the Würzburger Stein one of Germany's oldest documented vineyards.

371Wineries137Profiles

Facts Terroir Top profiles Vineyards Events FAQ All wineries

Grape Varieties

Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Bacchus

+5 more

Most Famous Site

Würzburger Stein

Total Area

6.100 ha

Harvest

mid-September – mid-October

371

Wineries

137

Detailed profiles

Premium profiles

Sub-regions

About Franconia

Franconia follows the Main in great loops through Lower Franconia. Three districts divide the region by geology: the Mainviereck in the west with red sandstone (Bürgstadt, Klingenberg – Pinot Noir country), the Maindreieck in the centre with shell limestone (Würzburg, Randersacker, Escherndorf, the Volkach Main loop) and the Steigerwald in the east with Keuper (Iphofen, Rödelsee, Castell).

Silvaner has been documented at Castell since 1659 and remains the flagship: dry, earthy, with fine herbal spice and an ability to translate soil like few other white grapes. On shell limestone it turns taut and saline, on Keuper powerful and smoky, on sandstone juicy. Müller-Thurgau and Bacchus form the base, Riesling grows on the best steep sites, and in the Mainviereck Pinot Noir and Frühburgunder ripen to national top level.

The climate is continental: cold winters, dry hot summers, spring frost risk. The Main tempers the extremes in the riverside sites. Yields are comparatively low and the wines consistently dry – "fränkisch trocken" allows at most four grams of residual sugar.

Historically the three Würzburg foundation estates Juliusspital, Bürgerspital and Staatlicher Hofkeller (Residence, UNESCO World Heritage) have shaped the region for centuries. Today Rudolf Fürst, Horst Sauer, Weingut am Stein, Castell, Wirsching, Zehnthof Luckert and Rainer Sauer represent Franconia at Germany's top. Destinations: Würzburg, the Volkach Main loop, walled Iphofen and the Bocksbeutel trail.

Soil Type

Three zones: red sandstone in the Mainviereck, shell limestone in the Maindreieck, gypsum Keuper and reed sandstone in the Steigerwald; loess at the slope bases

Climate

Continental with cold winters and dry hot summers; spring frost risk, the Main as heat store

Sub-regions map

Sub-regions

1Mainviereck (Bürgstadt–Klingenberg)61 2Würzburg & Maindreieck110 3Volkacher Mainschleife124 4Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell)76

At a glance

Wineries

371

Vineyard area

6.100 ha

Full profiles

137

Top vineyard

Würzburger Stein

Harvest

mid-September – mid-October

Key varieties

Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Bacchus

White / Red

83% White

17% Red

Typical Flavours of the Region

Region aroma cloud

ApplePeachCitrusApricotJasmineSlatePetrol (with age)CherryRaspberryStrawberryVioletForest floorMushroomLeather (with age)QuincePearFresh peasHerbs

→ Aroma wheel and variety profiles

The terroirs of Franconia

Compare in the terroir explorer →

4 sub-regions, 4 soil-climate combinations — the fingerprint shows at a glance why the wines taste so different.

Mainviereck (Bürgstadt–Klingenberg)

Red sandstone Pinot

SandstoneMuschelkalk limestone

Mainviereck: Germany's sandstone Pinot – cool, silky, ageworthy.

Explore terroir →

Würzburg & Maindreieck

Classic shell-limestone Silvaner

Muschelkalk limestoneLoess

Würzburg: shell-limestone Silvaner in its purest form – earthy, saline, taut.

Explore terroir →

Volkacher Mainschleife

Limestone amphitheatre at the Lump

Muschelkalk limestoneLoessLoam

Volkach Main loop: ripe, dense Silvaner and Riesling from the limestone rock of the Lump.

Explore terroir →

Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell)

Gypsum-Keuper power

Keuper marlMarlSandstone

Steigerwald: powerful, smoky Silvaner and Riesling from gypsum Keuper.

Explore terroir →

Data & Facts

🏛

371

Wineries

🌿

6.100

Hectares

★

137

Full profiles

📊

37%

Detailed-profile coverage

Detailed profiles

Regional grape varieties

Silvaner25%
Müller-Thurgau17%
Bacchus17%
Riesling8%
Spätburgunder8%
Domina8%
Scheurebe8%
Weißburgunder8%

Renomée distribution (global)

1★42%
2★2%
3★22%
4★32%
5★ World icon2%

Wineries by sub-region

Volkacher Mainschleife

124

Würzburg & Maindreieck

110

Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell)

Mainviereck (Bürgstadt–Klingenberg)

Detailed profiles

Weingut Fürst

Franken · Mainviereck (Bürgstadt–Klingenberg) · Bürgstadt

GlobalRegional

VDPSpitzenweingutWeltklasse

Spätburgunder, Frühburgunder, Riesling

Weingut Horst Sauer

Franken · Volkacher Mainschleife · Volkach

GlobalRegional

VDPSpitzenweingutWeltklasse

Silvaner, Riesling, Müller-Thurgau

Stiftung Juliusspital Würzburg

Franken · Würzburg & Maindreieck · Würzburg

GlobalRegional

VDPSpitzenweingut

Silvaner, Riesling, Müller-Thurgau

Weingut am Stein - Ludwig Knoll

Franken · Würzburg & Maindreieck · Würzburg

GlobalRegional

VDPSpitzenweingutBio

Silvaner, Riesling, Weißburgunder

Bürgerspital Weinhaus

Franken · Würzburg & Maindreieck · Würzburg

GlobalRegional

VDPSpitzenweingut

Silvaner, Riesling, Müller-Thurgau

Weingut Wirsching

Franken · Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) · Iphofen

GlobalRegional

VDPSpitzenweingut

Silvaner, Riesling, Scheurebe

All Wineries

371 results

Weingut Fürst

Franken · Mainviereck (Bürgstadt–Klingenberg) · Bürgstadt

GlobalRegional

VDPSpitzenweingutWeltklasse

Spätburgunder, Frühburgunder, Riesling

Weingut Horst Sauer

Franken · Volkacher Mainschleife · Volkach

GlobalRegional

VDPSpitzenweingutWeltklasse

Silvaner, Riesling, Müller-Thurgau

Stiftung Juliusspital Würzburg

Franken · Würzburg & Maindreieck · Würzburg

GlobalRegional

VDPSpitzenweingut

Silvaner, Riesling, Müller-Thurgau

Weingut am Stein - Ludwig Knoll

Franken · Würzburg & Maindreieck · Würzburg

GlobalRegional

VDPSpitzenweingutBio

Silvaner, Riesling, Weißburgunder

Bürgerspital Weinhaus

Franken · Würzburg & Maindreieck · Würzburg

GlobalRegional

VDPSpitzenweingut

Silvaner, Riesling, Müller-Thurgau

Weingut Wirsching

Franken · Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) · Iphofen

GlobalRegional

VDPSpitzenweingut

Silvaner, Riesling, Scheurebe

Fürstlich Castell'sches Domänenamt

Franken · Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) · Castell

GlobalRegional

VDPSpitzenweingut

Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Riesling

Weingut Zehnthof

Franken · Würzburg & Maindreieck · Sulzfeld am Main

GlobalRegional

VDPSpitzenweingut

Silvaner, Riesling, Weißburgunder

Staatlicher Hofkeller Würzburg

Franken · Würzburg & Maindreieck · Würzburg

GlobalRegional

VDPSpitzenweingut

Silvaner, Riesling, Müller-Thurgau

Weingut Rainer Sauer

Franken · Volkacher Mainschleife · Escherndorf

GlobalRegional

VDPSpitzenweingut

Silvaner, Riesling, Müller-Thurgau

Weingut Bickel-Stumpf

Franken · Würzburg & Maindreieck · Frickenhausen a.Main

GlobalRegional

VDPSpitzenweingut

Silvaner, Riesling, Spätburgunder

Weingut Fürst Löwenstein

Franken · Mainviereck (Bürgstadt–Klingenberg) · Kreuzwertheim

GlobalRegional

VDPSpitzenweingut

Silvaner, Riesling, Spätburgunder

Classified Single Vineyards

50 sites

The most important classified single vineyards in the region. Classification per VDP (German Prädikat Wine Estates Association) and traditional vineyard registers.

1Bürgstadter Centgrafenberg

VDP.Große Lage

📍 Bürgstadt

Soil:red sandstone, loam

Varieties:Spätburgunder, Frühburgunder, Silvaner

Producers:Juliusspital Würzburg, Weingut Rudolf Fürst

Bürgstadter Centgrafenberg – single vineyard in Bürgstadt (Franken); soils: red sandstone, sandstone, loam. VDP Grosse Lage.

2Bürgstadter Hundsrück

VDP.Große Lage

📍 Bürgstadt

Soil:Red sandstone; shell-limestone terraces at the Kallmuth

Varieties:Spätburgunder, Frühburgunder, Silvaner

Producers:Weingut Rudolf Fürst

3Casteller Hohnart

VDP.Große Lage

📍 Castell

Soil:Gypsum Keuper, reed sandstone, Lettenkeuper

Varieties:Silvaner, Riesling, Scheurebe

Producers:Fürstlich Castell'sches Domänenamt

4Casteller Kugelspiel

VDP.Große Lage

📍 Castell

Soil:Gypsum Keuper, reed sandstone, Lettenkeuper

Varieties:Silvaner, Riesling, Scheurebe

Producers:Fürstlich Castell'sches Domänenamt

5Casteller Schlossberg

VDP.Große Lage

📍 Castell

Soil:Gypsum Keuper, reed sandstone, Lettenkeuper

Varieties:Silvaner, Riesling, Scheurebe

Producers:Fürstlich Castell'sches Domänenamt

6Dettelbacher Berg-Rondell

VDP.Große Lage

📍 Dettelbach

Soil:Shell limestone, almost pure limestone rock at the Lump

Varieties:Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Riesling

Producers:Weingut Glaser-Himmelstoss

7Escherndorfer Am Lumpen 1655

VDP.Große Lage

📍 Escherndorf

Soil:Shell limestone, almost pure limestone rock at the Lump

Varieties:Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Riesling

Producers:Weingut Horst Sauer, Weingut Rainer Sauer

8Escherndorfer Fürstenberg

VDP.Große Lage

📍 Escherndorf· 60 ha

Soil:shell limestone, loess

Varieties:Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Riesling

Producers:Weingut Egon Schäffer, Weingut Michael Fröhlich, Weingut Rainer Sauer

Escherndorfer Fürstenberg – single vineyard in Escherndorf (Franken), 60 ha; soils: shell limestone, loess. VDP Grosse Lage.

9Escherndorfer Lump

VDP.Große Lage

📍 Escherndorf· 25 ha

Soil:shell limestone

Varieties:Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Riesling

Producers:Juliusspital Würzburg, Weingut Egon Schäffer, Weingut Horst Sauer, Weingut Max Müller I, Weingut Michael Fröhlich, Weingut Rainer Sauer

Escherndorfer Lump – single vineyard in Escherndorf (Franken), 25 ha; soils: shell limestone. VDP Grosse Lage.

10Frickenhäuser Kapellenberg

VDP.Große Lage

📍 Frickenhäuser

Soil:Shell limestone with loess cover

Varieties:Silvaner, Riesling, Müller-Thurgau

Producers:Weingut Bickel-Stumpf

11Homburger Kallmuth

VDP.Große Lage

📍 Homburg

Soil:Red sandstone; shell-limestone terraces at the Kallmuth

Varieties:Spätburgunder, Frühburgunder, Silvaner

Producers:Weingut Fürst Löwenstein

12Hörsteiner Abtsberg

VDP.Große Lage

📍 Hörstein

Soil:Red sandstone; shell-limestone terraces at the Kallmuth

Varieties:Spätburgunder, Frühburgunder, Silvaner

Producers:Staatlicher Hofkeller Würzburg

13Iphöfer Julius-Echter-Berg

VDP.Große Lage

📍 Iphofen· 51 ha

Soil:Keuper, red sandstone

Varieties:Silvaner, Riesling, Scheurebe

Producers:Juliusspital Würzburg, Weingut Hans Wirsching, Weingut Johann Ruck

Iphöfer Julius-Echter-Berg – single vineyard in Iphofen (Franken), 51 ha; soils: Keuper, red sandstone. VDP Grosse Lage.

14Iphöfer Kalb

VDP.Große Lage

📍 Iphofen

Soil:Gypsum Keuper, reed sandstone, Lettenkeuper

Varieties:Silvaner, Riesling, Scheurebe

Producers:Weingut Hans Wirsching

15Iphöfer Kronsberg

VDP.Große Lage

📍 Iphofen

Soil:Gypsum Keuper, reed sandstone, Lettenkeuper

Varieties:Silvaner, Riesling, Scheurebe

Producers:Weingut Hans Wirsching, Weingut Johann Ruck

16Klingenberger Schlossberg

VDP.Große Lage

📍 Klingenberg

Soil:Red sandstone; shell-limestone terraces at the Kallmuth

Varieties:Spätburgunder, Frühburgunder, Silvaner

Producers:Weingut Benedikt Baltes, Weingut Rudolf Fürst

17Nordheimer Vögelein

VDP.Große Lage

📍 Nordheim am Main· 230 ha

Soil:shell limestone

Varieties:Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Riesling

Producers:Divino Nordheim Thüngersheim, Weingut Glaser-Himmelstoss

Nordheimer Vögelein – single vineyard in Nordheim am Main (Franken), 230 ha; soils: shell limestone. VDP Grosse Lage.

18Randersackerer Marsberg

VDP.Große Lage

📍 Randersacker

Soil:Shell limestone with loess cover

Varieties:Silvaner, Riesling, Müller-Thurgau

Producers:Weingut Schmitt's Kinder, Weingut Störrlein & Krenig

19Randersackerer Pfülben

VDP.Große Lage

📍 Randersacker

Soil:Shell limestone with loess cover

Varieties:Silvaner, Riesling, Müller-Thurgau

Producers:Bürgerspital zum Heiligen Geist, Juliusspital Würzburg, Staatlicher Hofkeller Würzburg, Weingut Schmitt's Kinder

20Randersackerer Sonnenstuhl

VDP.Große Lage

📍 Randersacker

Soil:Shell limestone with loess cover

Varieties:Silvaner, Riesling, Müller-Thurgau

Producers:Weingut Schmitt's Kinder, Weingut Störrlein & Krenig, Weingut am Stein

21Retzstadter Langenberg

VDP.Große Lage

📍 Retzstadt

Soil:Shell limestone with loess cover

Varieties:Silvaner, Riesling, Müller-Thurgau

Producers:Weingut Rudolf May

22Rödelseer Küchenmeister

VDP.Große Lage

📍 Rödelsee

Soil:Gypsum Keuper, reed sandstone, Lettenkeuper

Varieties:Silvaner, Riesling, Scheurebe

Producers:Juliusspital Würzburg, Weingut Johann Ruck, Weingut Paul Weltner

23Rödelseer Schwanleite

VDP.Große Lage

📍 Rödelsee

Soil:Gypsum Keuper, reed sandstone, Lettenkeuper

Varieties:Silvaner, Riesling, Scheurebe

Producers:Weingut Paul Weltner

24Thüngersheimer Johannisberg

VDP.Große Lage

📍 Thüngersheim

Soil:Shell limestone with loess cover

Varieties:Silvaner, Riesling, Müller-Thurgau

Producers:Divino Nordheim Thüngersheim, Staatlicher Hofkeller Würzburg, Weingut Bickel-Stumpf, Weingut Schwab

25Volkacher Karthäuser

VDP.Große Lage

📍 Volkach

Soil:Shell limestone, almost pure limestone rock at the Lump

Varieties:Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Riesling

Producers:Juliusspital Würzburg, Weingut Max Müller I, Weingut Rudolf Fürst

26Volkacher Ratsherr

VDP.Große Lage

📍 Volkach· 185 ha

Soil:shell limestone, loam

Varieties:Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Riesling

Producers:Weingut Max Müller I

Volkacher Ratsherr – single vineyard in Volkach (Franken), 185 ha; soils: shell limestone, loam. VDP Grosse Lage.

27Wiesenbronner Wachhügel

VDP.Große Lage

📍 Wiesenbronn

Soil:Gypsum Keuper, reed sandstone, Lettenkeuper

Varieties:Silvaner, Riesling, Scheurebe

Producers:Weingut Roth

28Würzburger Innere Leiste

VDP.Große Lage

📍 Würzburg

Soil:Shell limestone with loess cover

Varieties:Silvaner, Riesling, Müller-Thurgau

Producers:Bürgerspital zum Heiligen Geist, Staatlicher Hofkeller Würzburg, Weingut am Stein

29Würzburger Stein

VDP.Große Lage

📍 Würzburg· 85 ha

Soil:shell limestone

Varieties:Silvaner, Riesling, Müller-Thurgau

Producers:Bürgerspital zum Heiligen Geist, Juliusspital Würzburg, Staatlicher Hofkeller Würzburg, Weingut am Stein

Würzburger Stein – single vineyard in Würzburg (Franken), 85 ha; soils: shell limestone. VDP Grosse Lage.

30Würzburger Stein-Harfe

VDP.Große Lage

📍 Würzburg

Soil:Shell limestone with loess cover

Varieties:Silvaner, Riesling, Müller-Thurgau

Producers:Bürgerspital zum Heiligen Geist

31Abtswinder Altenberg

Klassifiziert

📍 Abtswind

Soil:Gypsum Keuper, reed sandstone, Lettenkeuper

Varieties:Silvaner, Riesling, Scheurebe

32Bullenheimer Berg

Klassifiziert

📍 Bullenheim· 30.5 ha

Soil:Keuper, reed sandstone

Varieties:Silvaner, Riesling, Scheurebe

Bullenheimer Berg – single vineyard in Bullenheim (Franken), 30.5 ha; soils: Keuper, reed sandstone, sandstone. Classified single vineyard.

33Bullenheimer Paradies

Klassifiziert

📍 Bullenheim

Soil:Gypsum Keuper, reed sandstone, Lettenkeuper

Varieties:Silvaner, Riesling, Scheurebe

34Casteller Herrenberg

Klassifiziert

📍 Castell· 70 ha

Soil:gypsum Keuper, reed sandstone

Varieties:Silvaner, Riesling, Scheurebe

Casteller Herrenberg – single vineyard in Castell (Franken), 70 ha; soils: gypsum Keuper, reed sandstone. Classified single vineyard.

35Dettelbacher Honigberg

Klassifiziert

📍 Dettelbach· 150 ha

Soil:shell limestone

Varieties:Silvaner, Riesling, Müller-Thurgau

Dettelbacher Honigberg – single vineyard in Dettelbach (Franken), 150 ha; soils: shell limestone. Classified single vineyard.

36Erlenbacher Hochberg

Klassifiziert

📍 Erlenbach

Soil:Red sandstone; shell-limestone terraces at the Kallmuth

Varieties:Spätburgunder, Frühburgunder, Silvaner

37Großheubacher Bischofsberg

Klassifiziert

📍 Großheubach

Soil:Red sandstone; shell-limestone terraces at the Kallmuth

Varieties:Spätburgunder, Frühburgunder, Silvaner

38Iphöfer Burgweg

Klassifiziert

📍 Iphofen· 320 ha

Soil:Keuper

Varieties:Silvaner, Riesling, Scheurebe

Iphöfer Burgweg – single vineyard in Iphofen (Franken), 320 ha; soils: Keuper. Classified single vineyard.

39Kitzinger Hofrat

Klassifiziert

📍 Kitzingen· 400 ha

Soil:shell limestone, Keuper

Varieties:Silvaner, Riesling, Müller-Thurgau

Kitzinger Hofrat – single vineyard in Kitzingen (Franken), 400 ha; soils: shell limestone, Keuper. Classified single vineyard.

40Neuseser Glatzen

Klassifiziert

📍 Neuses am Berg· 70 ha

Soil:shell limestone

Varieties:Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Riesling

Neuseser Glatzen – single vineyard in Neuses am Berg (Franken), 70 ha; soils: shell limestone. Classified single vineyard.

41Nordheimer Kreuzberg

Klassifiziert

📍 Nordheim am Main· 91 ha

Soil:shell limestone

Varieties:Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Riesling

Producers:Divino Nordheim Thüngersheim

Nordheimer Kreuzberg – single vineyard in Nordheim am Main (Franken), 91 ha; soils: shell limestone. Classified single vineyard.

42Rödelseer Schloßberg

Klassifiziert

📍 Rödelsee· 250 ha

Soil:shell limestone, Keuper

Varieties:Silvaner, Riesling, Scheurebe

Rödelseer Schloßberg – single vineyard in Rödelsee (Franken), 250 ha; soils: shell limestone, Keuper. Classified single vineyard.

43Röttinger Feuerstein

Klassifiziert

📍 Röttingen· 30 ha

Soil:shell limestone

Varieties:Silvaner, Riesling, Müller-Thurgau

Producers:Winzerhof Stahl

Röttinger Feuerstein – single vineyard in Röttingen (Franken), 30 ha; soils: shell limestone. Classified single vineyard.

44Sommeracher Engelsberg

Klassifiziert

📍 Sommerach· 30 ha

Soil:shell limestone, loam

Varieties:Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Riesling

Sommeracher Engelsberg – single vineyard in Sommerach (Franken), 30 ha; soils: shell limestone, loam. Classified single vineyard.

45Sommeracher Katzenkopf

Klassifiziert

📍 Sommerach· 175 ha

Soil:shell limestone

Varieties:Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Riesling

Sommeracher Katzenkopf – single vineyard in Sommerach (Franken), 175 ha; soils: shell limestone. Classified single vineyard.

46Sommeracher Rosenberg

Klassifiziert

📍 Sommerach· 60 ha

Soil:shell limestone

Varieties:Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Riesling

Sommeracher Rosenberg – single vineyard in Sommerach (Franken), 60 ha; soils: shell limestone. Classified single vineyard.

47Sommerhäuser Steinbach

Klassifiziert

📍 Sommerhäuser

Soil:Shell limestone with loess cover

Varieties:Silvaner, Riesling, Müller-Thurgau

48Tauberrettersheimer Königin

Klassifiziert

📍 Tauberrettersheim· 45 ha

Soil:shell limestone

Varieties:Silvaner, Riesling, Müller-Thurgau

Tauberrettersheimer Königin – single vineyard in Tauberrettersheim (Franken), 45 ha; soils: shell limestone. Classified single vineyard.

49Volkacher Kirchberg

Klassifiziert

📍 Volkach· 685 ha

Soil:shell limestone

Varieties:Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Riesling

Volkacher Kirchberg – single vineyard in Volkach (Franken), 685 ha; soils: shell limestone. Classified single vineyard.

50Würzburger Gutental

Klassifiziert

📍 Würzburg

Soil:Shell limestone with loess cover

Varieties:Silvaner, Riesling, Müller-Thurgau

Würzburger Gutental – single vineyard in Würzburg (Franken); soils: Shell limestone with loess cover. Classified single vineyard.

Sources: VDP, state vineyard registers, Wikipedia vineyard articles, traditional vineyard literature.

Events in Franconia

All events in Franconia →

25 Apr – Mon, 26 April 2027

VDP.Weinbörse Mainz

Tasting · Mainz

VDP. Die Prädikatsweingüter · 10 wineriesfrom €45

8 May – Sun, 9 May 2027

Mainfranken Weinfrühling Würzburg

Tasting · Würzburg

Frankenwein-Frankenland GmbHfrom €25

28 May – Mon, 31 May 2027

Randersackerer Weinfest

Wine festival · Randersacker

Markt RandersackerFree

2 Jul – Mon, 5 July 2027

Iphöfer Weinfest

Wine festival · Iphofen

Stadt IphofenFree

6 Aug – Mon, 9 August 2027

Escherndorfer Weinfest

Wine festival · Volkach-Escherndorf

Escherndorfer WinzerFree

13 Aug – Tue, 17 August 2027

Volkacher Weinfest

Wine festival · Volkach

Stadt VolkachFree

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Bocksbeutel?

The flat, bulbous flask has been Franconia's trademark since the 18th century and is EU-protected. It may only be used for Franconian quality wines (with exceptions for small parts of Baden and Portugal).

Why is Franconia Silvaner country?

Silvaner was first planted in Germany at Castell in 1659. Franconia's limestone- and Keuper-rich soils give the neutral variety spice, structure and ageing potential – nowhere else does Silvaner reach this level.

Which grape varieties define Franconia?

The key grape varieties in Franconia are Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Bacchus, Riesling and Spätburgunder. The best-known vineyard is Würzburger Stein.

When is the best time to visit Franconia for wine?

The harvest in Franconia takes place mid-September – mid-October – when vineyards and cellars are busiest. May to July suits tastings without harvest bustle; many estates open their tasting rooms off-season by appointment.

What does the terroir of Franconia taste like?

Soils: Three zones: red sandstone in the Mainviereck, shell limestone in the Maindreieck, gypsum Keuper and reed sandstone in the Steigerwald; loess at the slope bases. Climate: Continental with cold winters and dry hot summers; spring frost risk, the Main as heat store. Together they shape structure, acidity and aromatics – see the terroir profile above.

How many wineries are there in Franconia?

Cellarmap lists 371 wineries in Franconia across roughly 6,100 hectares of vines, spread over 4 sub-regions. Every profile shows location, contact, grape varieties and, where available, vineyards, classification and visitor information.

📖 Look up in glossary

All terms →

Related wine terms — clearly explained in the Cellarmap glossary.

Burgunder Riesling Silvaner Spätburgunder Kalkboden Klima Lage Restzucker Trocken Weingut