Franconia (wine region)
The wine region Franconia is in the northwest of the Franconia region. With approximately 6234.1 hectares of land (as of 2013) it is one of the medium sized growing regions in Germany. The vast majority of vineyards located in the district of Lower Franconia, especially in the valleys of Main, Wern and Franconian Saale. Other interests in the wine region has also Middle Franconia, namely on the slopes of the Steigerwald and the Franconia, in Aischgrund and the middle reaches of the Tauber. A small part lies in the district of Upper Franconia in the Main valley northwest of Bamberg, and in the city of Bamberg.
- 5.1 wine festivals and Heckenwirtschaften
- 5.2 Architecture and wine
- 5.3 Franconian wine queens
Franconia wine region
Overview
Viticulture in Franconia dates back to the 8th century. This is a deed of gift by Charlemagne in the year 777 for mutton castle and 779 for Würzburg. Especially monasteries built vines at that time for the production of sacramental wine. In the Middle Ages the area under cultivation grew to almost 40,000 ha franc was the largest growing area of the Holy Roman Empire north of the Alps. The wine-growing area exceeded that of the Moselle and the left or right of the Rhine by far. She shrank in the 20th century temporarily to a little over 2,000 ha
Today there are in the wine region Franconia than 6,000 acres of vines, so it is the sixth largest wine region in Germany. The vineyards extend from Bamberg to Aschaffenburg. Because of the often harsh winter and the possibility of late frosts, the cultivated area is limited to protected areas along the River and the slopes of the Steigerwald.
The bigger part of the vineyard farm self- marketers, perform the vinification in their own company with its own cellar technology and market the wines themselves.
In Franconia, there are many small wineries. 2,916 enterprises had in 2013 together to form cooperatives, since the investments for cellaring and marketing of this size can not be done. The largest cooperative is to Winzergemeinschaft francs ( short GWF ) with approximately 1,400 ha of vineyards.
Basically, there are three areas with different soil formations. From West to East:
Under Main on Main Square
At the Bavarian Lower Main, on the western edge of the main square, the climatic and geological conditions are particularly suitable for the cultivation of red wine.
Especially premature Blanc and Pinot Noir are therefore on the available here sandstone soils cultivated for years. The best locations of Centgrafenberg in Bürgstadt and the Schlossberg in Klingenberg am Main apply. The main towns are Bürgstadt, United Heubach, Klingenberg am Main and Erlenbach am Main. The vineyards on the middle reaches of the Tauber to Tauberrettersheim and Tauber cell count for the lower Main.
The Franconian wine - growing area between Great Wall and Bürgstadt city is accessible to tourists by the approximately 55 km long Franconian Red Wine Hiking Trail since 1990.
Maindreieck
On the sometimes steep vineyards on Main Triangle with its limestone soils Silvaner are grown, which are among the best in the world. Wine critics claim that this area is the only area of Germany was where the Silvaner better results bring forth than the Riesling. Even red wines are now grown. It is known especially the location Würzburg stone; their wine is known as " stone wine " for centuries.
Here also the first Silvaner franc was probably planted. In a document, the sale of 25 " Austrians root cuttings ", a synonym for Silvaner, a farmer in Obereisenheim, at that time belonging to the County of Castell, occupied. This deed of 10 April 1659 - the oldest written proof of Silvaner in Franconia - Castell is located in the archive.
Important places of this region include Wurzburg, Thüngersheim, Randersacker, summer living, Frickenhausen am Main, Sulzfeld am Main, Sommerach, Escherndorf, Nordheim, Volkach, mutton castle ( oldest wine town of Franconia ) and Stetten ( Karlstadt ).
Steigerwald
In Steigerwald, especially in the field of Keuper soils around the Swan Mountain, very mineral-rich wines (especially Silvaner ) are also produced. The major resorts are Iphofen ( main location: Iphöfer Julius Real Berg), Rödelsee ( Rödelseer chef ) and Castell ( Castell Schlossberg ). Other well-known wine villages and vineyards in or on the Steigerwald are Abtswind ( Abtswinder Altenberg ), Oberschwarzach (hand Thaler Stollberg ) Ippesheim ( Ippesheimer rule Berg), Zeil am Main ( goat Prolonged oil Schnabel), Zell am Ebersberg (Zeller Schlossberg ) and Sand am Main ( Sander Himmelsbühl ).
Tauber
The Würzburg district belonging to the southernmost part of the vineyard is located in the area of the city and the community Rottingen Tauberrettersheim. This smallest part of the growing region franc is mainly characterized by the mild climate in the Tauber Valley and through the " Roettinger flint ". Thus, the flint veins pass through the Roettinger vineyard flint. A special feature of this area is the variety Tauberschwarz.
Wines from the Baden-Württemberg Tauberfranken are also sold as Franconian wines in the traditional bocksbeutel; However Tauberfranken is officially part of the wine region of Baden.
Characteristic of the Franconian wine
Due to the soil and the mild climate on the Main arise very mineral-rich wines with spicy taste. Also a role in quality control - The mineral content of the wine plays therefore - unlike in all other growing areas. From the typical varietal Silvaner neutral, fruity, earthy wines are produced. The dominance of the less profitable and "difficult" Silvaner but went back decades ago in favor of the bulk support Müller -Thurgau, which occupied intermittently over half of the vineyards.
Wines from Franconia are often expanded quite dry. " Franconian dry" wines (the term is name not legally permitted) contain a maximum of four grams per liter of residual sugar ( " German dry" max. Nine grams per liter) 12,000 to 14,000 francs wines are annually tested officially, the proportion of " Franconian dry" wines is 25%. Many wineries also produce " internationally dry" wines from grapes such as Riesling, Pinot Blanc or Pinot Gris.
Traditionally, the position of the Franconian wine plays an important role along with the winemaker. Since the location information for lay outside franc but are not very meaningful, was recently tried the wine to sell under certain brand names. An example of this is the " Tilman " the Winzergemeinschaft francs ( GWF ). Behind the different wines and sparkling wines conceal from different locations, sometimes from different grape varieties.
The Maturity of Franconian wines is very different. Simple quality wines and Kabinett wines should be drunk as soon as possible, because in them decreases with time, the acid and the typical Swiss francs plants freshness is lost. Good dry Spätlese, rest sweet wines and high-quality red wines ( eg, from the oak barrels ) should be the earliest one to be opened up to two years after bottling (many do anyway after a year in the sale ) and can in ordinary storage even after more than ten years still taste great. Noble sweet wines, especially from the varieties Silvaner, Riesling, Rieslaner and Scheurebe, can last for decades with very good vintages.
Varieties
Originally, the Silvaner was the most important variety of Franconia and was considered a typical Franconian wine, the first planting in Franconia can be mentioned in documents for the year 1659. To face the climatic difficulties to achieve better yields, large areas with Müller-Thurgau were planted in the 20th century - the grape celebrated 2013 centenary in Franconia. Although still the most common variety, the proportion is declining again in total for several years.
Approximately 19 % of the area is planted with red wine.
The main grape varieties of the region referred to areal fractions: (as of 2013)
- Müller -Thurgau 28.1%
- Silvaner 22.8 %
- Bacchus 11.9%
- Riesling 5.3%
- Kerner 3.3%
- Scheurebe 2.2%
- White Burgundy 2.5%
- Domination 5.5%
- Pinot Noir 4.3%
- Black Riesling 1.3%
- Portuguese 1.0%
- Regent 2.3%
- Dornfelder 2.4%
Bocksbeutel
The buck bag is the typical and the most famous bottle shape for higher quality wines Franc. The glass body is flat and bulbous and only has a short neck. The origin of the name is not entirely clear; is considered likely that the similarity of the shape of the bottle with the scrotum of the Goat plays a role. Other derivations are based on abdominal bottle or book bag. Another interpretation attributes the form of a further development of the typical water bottles.
The label specifies the name of the producer or distributor. A lent or self-constructed coat of arms belongs to the typical design it. The check number gives information about the dealer and the year of bottling. Further, the location, the variety and the rank of the wine are set out.
Since 1989, the bocksbeutel in the EU is protected and may be used only for Franconian wines. The only exceptions are Tauberfranken region in the wine region of Baden, the vineyards in Baden-Baden with the bocksbeutel villages Steinbach (including district detour ), Varnhalt and Neuweier as well as a wine region in Portugal.
Wine and Lifestyle
Wine Festivals and Heckenwirtschaften
The cultivation of wine also has the (main ) influenced Franconian lifestyle. In contrast to many other German wine regions is a popular drink here. This is not least because of the numerous wine festivals expressed that take place in almost every wine-growing one or more times a year.
Also popular are the hackers or rear economies are ( in other growing areas bouquet or Besenwirtschaft called ). In these wineries are allowed to sell their own wine and small dishes. In the summer wine is served there in the early fall predominantly fresh brakeman ( Federweißer ).
Architecture and wine
For several years, it is no longer sufficient to attract potential customers exclusively with the ability to buy wine, wine tourism, with short breaks becoming more and more important. In order to increase the attractiveness of the wineries, new building culture interesting objects be built or upgraded. In an attractive ambience, the customer should not only experience the wine and taste, but feel that he is part of a culture. The German Wine Institute in Mainz records since 2010 buildings and facilities in the 13 wine regions of Germany as " Landmarks of Wine Culture " from. In Franconia, these include the " wine shop Iphofen ", the guest house and wine business of the estate on the stone, " Weinreich " the winegrowers Sommerach, the press and the press house of " winery focal spot " ( Sulzfeld am Main ) and the wine shop of " winery Max Müller I. " ( Volkach ).
Franconian wine queens
Tradition, the annual election of a Franconian wine queen, which should help to promote the local wine. Next to her, there are numerous local wine princesses.