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Riesling Estates in Franken
Franken (called Franconia in English) is a sizable wine region right in the center of Germany, around the city of Würzburg. It’s famous for clean, steely white wines from Riesling, as well as from several other interesting varieties, such as Silvaner and Müller-Thurgau. It’s also famous for the squat, flagon-shaped bottles, called a Bocksbeutel (bocks-boy-tul) that most producers use.
Bürgerspital zum Heiligen Geist
Theaterstraße 19, 97070 Würzburg, Germany
Phone (+49) 931-350-30
Fax (+49) 931-350-3444
Bürgerspital is one of the oldest and largest estates in all of Germany. It was established in 1319 as a charity hospital for anyone in need of medical attention. Top-quality vineyards in the surrounding area were soon donated to make wine that would, in the words of one generous benefactor, “restore and fortify the weak and sick.”
The cellar at Bürgerspital is one of the best-equipped in the region. They use temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks for fermentation, and then finish the wines in huge old oak barrels. They own some of the finest vineyards in the area, including Pfaffenberg and the wholly-owned Stein/Harfe.
Best vineyards
Würzburger Stein
Würzburger Stein-Harfe
Fürst
Hohenlindenweg 46, 63927 Bürgstadt, Germany
Phone (+49) 9371-8642
Fax (+49) 9371-69230
Paul Fürst is devotee of the new school of top-quality winemaking, which can be summed up in the words: lower yield – higher quality. Fürst has exceptional south-facing vineyards of weathered red sandstone. The grapes extract loads of minerals during their long, slow ripening process. A very hands-off winemaking approach gives the wines a fine, elegant polish.
Fürst also makes an impressive range of wines, including Pinot Blanc (Weissburgunder) and even Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder). Fürst’s Pinot Blanc is a gorgeous wine made toasty, round and complex through aging in small oak barrels. He also makes delicious and distinctive wines from Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Rieslaner (a crossing of Riesling and Silvaner) and, naturally, Riesling. They all have superb concentration, with fine fruit aromas balanced by elegant acidity.
Best Vineyard
Bürgstadter Centgrafenberg
Wirsching
Ludwigstrasse 16, 97343 Iphofen, Germany
Phone (+49) 9323-87330
Fax (+49) 9323-873390
E-mail wirsching@t-online.de
An old family estate that’s one of the biggest in Franken. The wines are clean, well-made and distinctive for their bright, steely texture. Plus, Iphofen is one of the prettiest old walled Medieval villages you will ever see.
Best Vineyards
Iphöfer Kronsberg
Iphöfer Julius-Echter-Berg
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