Germany — wine

Franken QbA

Franken (Franconia) is Germany's most distinctive wine region, known for the unique flat-bottomed Bocksbeutel bottle and Silvaner as the signature grape. The region's continental climate and diverse soils — Triassic sandstone in the east, limestone (Muschelkalk) in the west — produce wines of earthy, mineral character quite unlike any other German region. Dry Silvaner and Riesling from the Würzburger Stein and Escherndorfer Lump are benchmarks.

Year Rating Notes
2022 Outstanding Franken vintage; Silvaner and Riesling both excel
2021 Fresh and mineral; Silvaner at its best
2020 Rich and concentrated; earthy Franken character
2019 Consistent and reliable; good value vintage
2018 Warm year; powerful wines with good balance