Franconia (wine region)

[2] The greater part of the wine region is in Lower Franconia around its capital Würzburg along the Main River.

The bends of the River Main have been used to define the region's three districts, two of which take their names from their respective geometric shape.

[3] The Mainviereck ("Main square") is the westernmost district of Franconia, on the lower slopes of the Spessart hills and is one of the warmest spots in Bavaria.

Riesling, Bacchus, Pinot noir, Domina, and Dornfelder are the most important grapes besides Silvaner and Müller-Thurgau.

The most important villages are Iphofen, Rödelsee and Castell There is evidence that wine has been produced in Franconia for over 1,000 years.

In an old document from the year 777 there is a note of a winery in the town of Hammelburg being given by Charlemagne to Fulda Abbey.

Apart from the Steinwein, very few people outside Franconia – and nearly no one outside Germany – is familiar with the site names, mainly because the German Lagen are tiny compared to some of the well-known appellations of France, Italy, and Spain.

Although the amount of Müller Thurgau has been decreasing for the last ten years, it is still the most widely cultivated grape in Franconia.

[2] The most cultivated grape varieties, by area in 2022, were:[6] The rounded and flattened Bocksbeutel is the typical and well known bottle originally used only for the best Franconian wines.

Since 1989 the use of the Bocksbeutel has been protected by European Union regulations, but some other regions beside Franconia are also allowed to use this bottle shape.

[citation needed] Nearly every town has its own Weinfest, a festival that lasts a weekend, or sometimes just one day, where wine is drunk instead of beer.

The so-called Heckenwirtschaften are very popular small outlets where wineries sell their own wine, usually at reasonable prices.

Map of the Franconia region. In the centre of the map, around Würzburg, the river Main makes a sharp turn which defines a V-shaped triangle often referred to as the "Main triangle", Maindreieck . Further to the west, Main makes two almost 90 degree turns, which give rise to an almost square U shape known as the "Main square", Mainviereck . To the southeast of the region lies Steigerwald .
Red grapes along the "Franconian red wine footpath", a long-distance hiking trail
The Maindreieck in bird's-eye view
A Silvaner wine from Franconia
Bocksbeutel containing Franconian wine