Franconia/Franken

Travelling along the Main River, and approaching the Mainviereck area from the west, on comes across the first vineyards just before reaching Aschaffenburg. This is the least known and least highly regarded sub-region in Franken. In the area between Wasserlos and Marktheidenfeld, wine producers are particularly proud of their Pinot Noir red wines. This variety is particularly suited to the predominant soil structures of decomposed sandstone. The Riesling vine, too, has an affinity to Sandstone, and the best examples from this region are characterised by tremendous elegance and expressiveness. Without any doubt the leading producer in the area is Rudolf Fürst in Bürgstadt, whose elegant and subtle Rieslings are just as popular as the Pinot Blanc, which is matured in barrique, as well as the red wines made from various clones of Pinot Noir, which in good vintages are of international stature.

(translation by Peter Gebler)