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📍 Franconia

Appellation ✔ Checked: 10.2026 · sources: 6 Updated:

The Franken appellation in northern Bavaria along the Main, centred on Würzburg; 6,040 ha (2025), a quarter of it Silvaner.

Franconia (Franken) is a wine appellation in northern Bavaria, along the river Main and its tributaries, centred on Würzburg. In 2025 it had 6,040 ha of vineyards, 83 % of them under white varieties. The main grape is Silvaner, which covers a quarter of the area, and the wine is traditionally bottled in the flat Bocksbeutel.

The region is ringed by the uplands of the Spessart, Odenwald, Rhön, Haßberge and Steigerwald, and its steep slopes lie on the bends of the Main. The soils are Triassic: variegated sandstone, shell limestone and Keuper, with gneiss and mica schist in the west. Rainfall is under 550 mm a year – one of the driest parts of Bavaria; spring frosts are a danger, and more and more plots are drip-irrigated.

In 2024 Silvaner covered 1,552 ha (25.3 %), Müller-Thurgau 1,347 ha (22.0 %) and Bacchus 723 ha (11.8 %), followed by Riesling and the red Domina. The name Franken has been protected in the EU since 18.09.1973. Yields are capped at 90 hl/ha, and at 70 hl/ha for wines bearing the name of an individual site. Historically the region was divided into Maindreieck, Mainviereck and Steigerwald; since 2017 it has had 12 smaller districts.

The Bocksbeutel is a short, bulbous, flat bottle with an elliptical base. Regulation (EU) 2019/33 reserves its shape for Franconia, part of Baden and a few wines from Italy, Greece and Portugal. Bavaria adds its own requirements: a site yield of no more than 99 hl/ha and a tasting-panel score of at least 2.0 points.

Why it matters to you. A flat bottle marked Franken holds wine that has passed extra Bavarian checks. Silvaner covers only a quarter of the area, so look for the variety on the label. Regional wine from the same zone is sold as Landwein Main.

Facts

CountryGermany
RegionBavaria, Main valley
RegisteredEU protection since 18.09.1973
CultivarsSilvaner 25.3 %, Müller-Thurgau 22.0 %, Bacchus 11.8 % (2024)
kind of🗺️German wine→📜Main Landwein→🍷Weingut Rudolf Fü…→🍷Bürgstadter Centg…→🍷Klingenberger Sch…→🍷Bürgstadter Hunds…→🍷Bürgstadter Berg …→🍷Rudolf Fürst Bürg…→🍷Rudolf Fürst Klin…→🍷Rudolf Fürst Spät…→🍷Rudolf Fürst Früh…→🍷Bürgstadter Berg …→🍷Rudolf Fürst Char…→🍷Rudolf Fürst Weis…→🍷Bürgstadter Berg …→🍷Bürgstadter Berg …📍towardia.com
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How it connects to Wine

📍 Franconia ← main grape of ← 🍇 Riesling → kind of → 🍇 Grape varieties → kind of → 🍷 Wine

Part of
🗺️ German wine
Related to
🍷 Weingut Rudolf Fürst (Bürgstadt, Franken), 🍷 Bürgstadter Centgrafenberg Spätburgunder GG, 🍷 Klingenberger Schlossberg Spätburgunder GG, 🍷 Bürgstadter Hundsrück Spätburgunder GG, 🍷 Bürgstadter Berg Spätburgunder, 🍷 Rudolf Fürst Bürgstadter Spätburgunder, 🍷 Rudolf Fürst Klingenberger Spätburgunder, 🍷 Rudolf Fürst Spätburgunder Tradition, 🍷 Rudolf Fürst Frühburgunder R, 🍷 Bürgstadter Berg Frühburgunder
and 67 more🍷 Rudolf Fürst Chardonnay R, 🍷 Rudolf Fürst Weisser Burgunder R, 🍷 Bürgstadter Berg Weisser Burgunder, 🍷 Bürgstadter Berg Chardonnay, 🍷 Rudolf Fürst Astheimer Chardonnay, 🍷 Bürgstadter Centgrafenberg Riesling GG, 🍷 Bürgstadter Berg Riesling, 🍷 Rudolf Fürst Bürgstadter Riesling, 🍷 Rudolf Fürst Riesling pur mineral, 🍷 Rudolf Fürst Weisser Burgunder pur mineral, 🍷 Rudolf Fürst Silvaner pur mineral, 🍷 Rudolf Fürst Parzival, 🍷 Hofkeller Abtswinder Altenberg Scheurebe Kabinett, 🍷 Hofkeller Bacchus, 🍷 Hofkeller Dorfprozeltener Domina trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Dorfprozeltener Frühburgunder trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Großheubacher Bischofsberg Spätburgunder GG trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Großheubacher Spätburgunder trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Handthal Bacchus, 🍷 Hofkeller Handthaler Stollberg Silvaner trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Hörsteiner Abtsberg Riesling Kabinett, 🍷 Hofkeller Hörsteiner Abtsberg Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese, 🍷 Hofkeller Hörsteiner Abtsberg Spätburgunder trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Riesling Kabinett, 🍷 Hofkeller Iphöfer Julius-Echter-Berg Silvaner trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Randersackerer Marsberg Silvaner trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Randersackerer Marsberg Traminer Kabinett, 🍷 Hofkeller Randersackerer Pfülben Riesling GG trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Randersackerer Pfülben Riesling Spätlese, 🍷 Hofkeller Randersackerer Riesling trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Randersackerer Silvaner trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Randersackerer Teufelskeller Silvaner trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Riesling trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Sauvignon blanc trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Scheurebe trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Silvaner trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Spätburgunder trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller UniWein Silvaner trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Weißer Burgunder trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Würzburg Müller-Thurgau trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Würzburg Riesling trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Würzburger Bacchus Kabinett, 🍷 Hofkeller Würzburger Innere Leiste Riesling Sekt brut, 🍷 Hofkeller Würzburger Innere Leiste Riesling trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Würzburger Innere Leiste Silvaner trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Würzburger Schlossberg Silvaner trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Würzburger Silvaner trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Würzburger Stein-Berg Riesling Beerenauslese, 🍷 Hofkeller Würzburger Stein-Berg Riesling GG trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Würzburger Stein-Berg Silvaner GG trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Würzburger Stein-Berg Weißer Burgunder GG trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Würzburger Stein Chardonnay trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Würzburger Stein Grauer Burgunder trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Würzburger Stein Rieslaner Spätlese, 🍷 Hofkeller Würzburger Stein Riesling GG trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Würzburger Stein Riesling trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Würzburger Stein Silvaner GG trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Würzburger Stein Silvaner trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Würzburger Stein Spätburgunder trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Würzburger Stein Weißburgunder trocken, 🍷 Hofkeller Würzburger Stein Weißer Burgunder Brut, 🍷 Hofkeller Zweigelt trocken, 🥃 Fränkischer Obstler, 🥃 Fränkisches Kirschwasser, 🥃 Fränkisches Zwetschgenwasser, 🍷 Still wine, 📜 Main Landwein
Grapes
🍇 Bacchus, 🍇 Domina, 🍇 Perle, 🍇 Sissi, 🍇 Mariensteiner, 🍇 Müller-Thurgau, 🍇 Rieslaner, 🍇 Albalonga, 🍇 Silvaner
Main grapes
🍇 Silvaner, 🍇 Müller-Thurgau, 🍇 Riesling, 🍇 Bacchus
Wines
🍷 White wine, 🍷 Red wine

Frequently asked questions

Where is Franconia?

In northern Bavaria, along the Main and its tributaries; the centre is Würzburg, surrounded by the Spessart, Rhön and Steigerwald.

Which grape is the main one in Franconia?

Silvaner: 1,536 ha in 2025, a quarter of the area; Müller-Thurgau covers almost as much.

Is it true that any winemaker can use the Bocksbeutel?

No. Regulation (EU) 2019/33 reserves this bottle for Franconia, part of Baden and a few wines from Italy, Greece and Portugal.

Is it true that Franconia is divided into three parts?

Historically, yes: Maindreieck, Mainviereck and Steigerwald. Since 2017 the region has had 12 smaller districts.

What is the climate like in Franconia?

Transitional to subcontinental: dry, hot summers, under 550 mm of rain a year, and dangerous winter and spring frosts.

What to read next

  • 📜 Main Landwein — Local wines from the Main valley in Franconia.
  • 🍷 Weingut Rudolf Fürst — A family estate in Bürgstadt in Franconia, growing vines since at least 1638; about 21 ha, more than 60% Pinot Noir, on the Bürgstadter Berg.
  • 🍷 Rudolf Fürst Parzival — Rudolf Fürst Parzival: red wine by Rudolf Fürst from Bürgstadt in Franconia; Franken.
  • 🍇 Riesling — A white wine grape from the banks of the Rhine, making wines from dry to sweet.
  • 🥃 Fränkischer Obstler — Fruit spirit from fermented apples and pears grown in Franconia (Bavaria); EU protected name since 1989, at least 38% ABV, no colourings or sugar.

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