Photo: Derzno, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Franconia · Sub-regions
Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell)
On the western edge of the Steigerwald the vines grow on gypsum Keuper and reed sandstone – heavy, mineral-rich soils giving powerful, smoky Silvaner and Riesling. Iphofen (Julius-Echter-Berg, Kronsberg) with Hans Wirsching, Johann Ruck and Zehntkeller, Rödelsee (Küchenmeister) and Castell, cradle of German Silvaner since 1659, are the centres.
Grape Varieties
Silvaner, Riesling
Scheurebe, Müller-Thurgau, Spätburgunder, Weißburgunder
Most Famous Site
Iphöfer Julius-Echter-Berg
Vineyard Area
1.400 ha
TERROIR PROFILE · Franconia
Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) Gypsum-Keuper power
Steigerwald: powerful, smoky Silvaner and Riesling from gypsum Keuper.
SOILS
Keuper marlpowerful, iron-red
Keuper marl with high iron content gives Lemberger and Pinot Noir powerful, spicy depth.
Marlbalanced, structured
Marl is a mix of limestone and clay — yields structured, balanced wines with acidity backbone.
Sandstonewarm, dry, spicy
Sandstone warms quickly and yields ripe, fragrant wines with yellow fruit and fine spice.
CLIMATE · Cool continental
The Steigerwald edge has a continental climate. The adjoining forests shield the vines from icy cold in winter and send cool air through the rows in summer; ripening is late.
TOPOGRAPHY · moderate
The vineyards lie on the western slopes of the Steigerwald near Iphofen, Rödelsee and Castell, with the forest behind them to the east and views towards the Main valley.
WHAT IT MEANS IN THE GLASS
Typical Flavours of the Region
Silvaner
WhiteRiesling
WhiteScheurebe
WhiteMüller-Thurgau
WhiteSpätburgunder
RedWeißburgunder
WhiteRegion aroma cloud
Franconia overview
This sub-region is part of Franconia. The map shows all 4 sub-regions — Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) is highlighted.
Overview
Typical Varieties
Terroir & Climate
Wine Character
The Steigerwald is a wooded ridge in the northwest of Franconia's Keuper country. The vineyards lie on its western edge, on the slopes around Iphofen, Rödelsee and Castell, with the Schwanberg as a prominent elevation. Iphofen with the Julius-Echter-Berg and Kronsberg is the centre, and Castell is the place where Silvaner is documented in Franconia in 1659.
The Keuper soils are characteristic: gypsum Keuper, reed sandstone and Lettenkeuper. They are heavy, clayey and rich in minerals and store water, so the vines cope well with dry years. The climate is continental; the forest at the back shelters from cold east winds, and ripening starts somewhat later than in the Main valley.
Silvaner is the main variety and on gypsum Keuper yields powerful, smoky and spicy wines with high ageing potential. Riesling, Scheurebe, Müller-Thurgau, Weißburgunder and Spätburgunder complete the range. Well-known producers include Hans Wirsching, Johann Ruck and Zehntkeller in Iphofen, Küchenmeister in Rödelsee and the Fürstlich Castell'sches Domänenamt.
Soil Type
Gypsum Keuper, reed sandstone, Lettenkeuper
Climate
Continental; the Steigerwald forest shelters from cold east winds, and ripening starts somewhat later than in the Main valley.
Top sites & producers
11 sitesThe most important classified single vineyards in the region. Classification per VDP (German Prädikat Wine Estates Association) and traditional vineyard registers.
By place (11)
Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell)11 entries
Sources: VDP, state vineyard registers, Wikipedia vineyard articles, traditional vineyard literature.
Top profiles
26 detailed profiles — all filterable in the list below
Fürstlich Castell'sches Domänenamt
Franken · Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) · Castell
Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Riesling
Weingut Weltner
Franken · Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) · Rödelsee
Silvaner, Riesling, Scheurebe
Weingut Roth
Franken · Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) · Wiesenbronn
Silvaner, Spätburgunder, Riesling
Weingut Wirsching
Franken · Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) · Iphofen
Silvaner, Riesling, Scheurebe
Weingut Johann Ruck
Franken · Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) · Iphofen
Silvaner, Riesling, Grauburgunder
Weingut u. Winzerhof Emmerich
Franken · Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) · Mönchsondheim
Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Silvaner
All Wineries
76 resultsFürstlich Castell'sches Domänenamt
Franken · Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) · Castell
Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Riesling
Weingut Weltner
Franken · Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) · Rödelsee
Silvaner, Riesling, Scheurebe
Weingut Roth
Franken · Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) · Wiesenbronn
Silvaner, Spätburgunder, Riesling
Weingut Wirsching
Franken · Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) · Iphofen
Silvaner, Riesling, Scheurebe
Weingut Johann Ruck
Franken · Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) · Iphofen
Silvaner, Riesling, Grauburgunder
Weingut u. Winzerhof Emmerich
Franken · Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) · Mönchsondheim
Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Silvaner
Weingut Johann Arnold
Franken · Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) · Mönchsondheim
Weingut Weigand
Franken · Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) · Mönchsondheim
Weinbau Hess
Franken · Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) · Rödelsee
Riesling, Spätburgunder, Weißburgunder
Weingut Bernhard Rippstein
Franken · Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) · Sand a. Main
Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Schwarzriesling
Weingut Vollhals
Franken · Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) · Rödelsee
Riesling, Spätburgunder, Chardonnay
Weingut Melber
Franken · Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) · Rödelsee
Riesling, Spätburgunder, Weißburgunder
Weingut Steinberger
Franken · Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) · Wiesenbronn
Spätburgunder, Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau
Weinmanufaktur 3 Zeilen
Franken · Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) · Rödelsee
Riesling, Chardonnay, Weißburgunder
Häckerscheune Volkamer
Franken · Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) · Ippesheim
Weingut Martin
Franken · Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) · Zeil am Main
Riesling, Spätburgunder, Silvaner
Weingut Wellmann
Franken · Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) · Ippesheim
Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Kerner
Weinbau Dürr
Franken · Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) · Ippesheim
Events in Franconia
All events in Franconia →Sat, 21 November 2026
Open Cellar Night Würzburg
Open cellar · Würzburg
25 Apr – Mon, 26 April 2027
VDP.Weinbörse Mainz
Tasting · Mainz
8 May – Sun, 9 May 2027
Mainfranken Wine Spring Würzburg
Tasting · Würzburg
28 May – Mon, 31 May 2027
Randersacker Wine Festival
Wine festival · Randersacker
2 Jul – Mon, 5 July 2027
Iphofen Wine Festival
Wine festival · Iphofen
6 Aug – Mon, 9 August 2027
Escherndorf Wine Festival
Wine festival · Volkach-Escherndorf
Frequently Asked Questions
Which villages and sites are there in the Steigerwald?
The centre is Iphofen with Julius-Echter-Berg and Kronsberg; other wine villages are Rödelsee and Castell, with the Schwanberg as a prominent hill.
What role does Silvaner play in the Steigerwald?
Silvaner is the most important variety and gives powerful, smoky-spicy wines with high ageing potential on Gipskeuper. In Castell, Silvaner is documented in Franconia in 1659.
What is the climate like in Steigerwald?
The climate in the Steigerwald is continental. The Steigerwald shields against cold east winds, and ripening begins somewhat later than in the Main valley.
Which grape varieties define Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell)?
The key grape varieties in Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) are Silvaner, Riesling, Scheurebe, Müller-Thurgau and Spätburgunder. The best-known vineyard is Iphöfer Julius-Echter-Berg.
How many wineries are there in Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell)?
Cellarmap lists 76 wineries in Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) across roughly 1,400 hectares of vines. Every profile shows location, contact, grape varieties and, where available, vineyards, classification and visitor information.
All wineries in Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell), A to Z
- Bürgerspital · Iphofen
- Der Patrizierhof · Großlangheim
- Fürstlich Castell'sches Domänenamt · Castell
- Goldene Krone Iphofen · Iphofen
- Häckerscheune Volkamer · Ippesheim
- Schmidt Winzerhof · Bullenheim
- Weinbau & Obstbau Hofmann · Wiesenbronn
- Weinbau am Schwanberg · Schwanberg
- Weinbau Dorsch · Iphofen
- Weinbau Dürr · Ippesheim
- Weinbau E. Neubert · Iphofen
- Weinbau Hess · Rödelsee
- Weinbau Mann · Bullenheim
- Weinbau Muth · Iphofen
- Weinbau Neubert · Iphofen
- Weinbau Rupert Maier · Mönchsondheim
- Weinbau und Obstbrennerei Hans Meyer · Castell
- Weingut & Pension Claußen-Wintzheimer · Iphofen
- Weingut A&E Rippstein · Sand a. Main
- Weingut am Schwanberg, F. Heß · Rödelsee
- Weingut Augustin · Sulzfeld am Main
- Weingut Bauerschmitt · Zeil am Main
- Weingut Baumann · Oberschwarzach
- Weingut Bausewein · Iphofen
- Weingut Behringer Wohnmobilstellplatz · Abtswind
- Weingut Bernhard Rippstein · Sand a. Main
- Weingut Dieter Laufer · Lisberg
- Weingut Ernst Popp · Iphofen
- Weingut Friedrich Rabenstein · Hüttenheim
- Weingut Fröhlich · Wiesenbronn
- Weingut Gamm · Markt Einersheim
- Weingut Gebrüder Müller · Mönchsondheim
- Weingut Gerhard Fröhlich · Iphofen
- Weingut Gottschalk · Sand a. Main
- Weingut H. Hassold · Kitzingen
- Weingut Hans Wirsching · Mönchsondheim
- Weingut Hell · Wiesenbronn
- Weingut Hemberger · Rödelsee
- Weingut Hofmann · Ipsheim
- Weingut Ilmbacher Hof · Iphofen
- Weingut Johann Arnold · Mönchsondheim
- Weingut Johann Ruck · Iphofen
- Weingut Karl Meyer · Rödelsee
- Weingut Keßler · Prichsenstadt
- Weingut Kistner GbR · Bullenheim
- Weingut Löther · Obernbreit
- Weingut Martin · Zeil am Main
- Weingut Meintzinger · Frickenhausen am Main
- Weingut Melber · Rödelsee
- Weingut Roth · Wiesenbronn
- Weingut Schilling · Seinsheim
- Weingut Schloß Frankenberg · Weigenheim
- Weingut Steinberger · Wiesenbronn
- Weingut Thomas Mend · Iphofen
- Weingut u. Winzerhof Emmerich · Mönchsondheim
- Weingut Ulsamer · Frickenhausen a. Main
- Weingut Völker · Kitzingen
- Weingut Vollhals · Rödelsee
- Weingut von der Tann · Possenheim
- Weingut Wagner & Gasthof "Zur Prichsenstädter Krone" · Prichsenstadt
- Weingut Weigand · Mönchsondheim
- Weingut Wellmann · Ippesheim
- Weingut Weltner · Rödelsee
- Weingut Werner Probst · Markt Nordheim
- Weingut Winfried Luckert · Sulzfeld am Main
- Weingut Winzermännle · Handthal
- Weingut Wirsching · Iphofen
- Weingut Zehntkeller · Iphofen
- Weinhof Grosch · Sugenheim
- Weinkellerei Martin Fischer KG · Wiesentheid
- Weinmanufaktur 3 Zeilen · Rödelsee
- Winzerhof E. Stier · Rödelsee
- Winzerhof Hofmann · Ergersheim
- Winzerhof Joh. Arnold · Iphofen
- Winzerhof Schick · Zeil am Main
- Winzerhof Soldner · Bullenheim
📖 Look up in glossary
All terms →Related wine terms — clearly explained in the Cellarmap glossary.