Weingut Wirsching (Franken/ Germany) in New York at the Wine Spectator Wine Experience 2022, USA/ Germany

Stefan Schindler: Germany is not only Riesling! The oldest document mentioning SILVANER in Germany dates back to 1659, and that’s why the wine-region Franken calls itself „Silvanerheimat“ – the home of Silvaner. 

 

At this year’s New York Wine Experience, organized by Wine Spectator magazine, only one German wine-estate (God knows why?) was invited to pour its wines, and it was not one of the well-known Riesling estates along the Rhine and Mosel rivers. 

 

Andrea Wirsching of Weingut Hans Wirsching in Franken came to New York and was more than happy that for once Silvaner was in the limelight. And I am sure it was not the last time… . 

 

The Wine Spectator/ Kristen Bieler: Speaking of rare birds, the white variety Sylvaner is one that even those of us who taste wine for a living don’t frequently encounter. Most come from Germany, a country that doesn’t get the love and attention it deserves from American wine drinkers, IMHO. This year, Hans Wirsching, a fantastic producer from the Franken region, will be pouring the estate’s 90-point 2019 Silvaner Iphöfer Julius-Echter-Berg GG (the “GG” means a wine is dry and from a grand cru vineyard), which has a fascinating combination of concentration and austere minerality.

 

Weingut Wirsching

The Wirsching family has been producing wine since 1630 in the village of Iphofen, a leading wine village in Franken. Today, Weingut Wirsching is one of the largest privately-owned winery in Germany.

In the early 1960's, Hans Wirsching Jr. brought back to Iphofen from Munich his brother Heinrich, who was a graduate business economist there. From then on, these two brothers wrote the great success story of the estate, with Hans Wirsching Jr. focusing on winemaking and Dr. Heinrich Wirsching on all other aspects of the winery. Thanks to their particular dedication to Iphofen's vineyards, Iphofen has developed into one of the leading wine-growing communities in all of Franconia. The 'new style' that Hans Wirsching had given his wines - fresh, reductive, elegant and slim - has become a trademark. The early passing of Hans in 1990 did not change the qualities that make Wirsching wines special.

Today, Dr. Heinrich Wirsching is still in charge of the estate. He is over 80 years of age but looks rather juvenile. While he is still the boss in every-day business, he is actively supported by his daughters Andrea and Lena as well as by management team. Andrea Wirsching, in her fifties, re-joined the family recently to assist her 20 years younger half-sister Lena. They carry on 350 years of family wine making tradition, with the General Manager Dr. Uwe Matheus, who was our host, Wine Maker Werner Probst and Marketing Chef Armin Huth.

 

Weingut Wirsching and the Germany East Tour by ombiasy WineTours

 

We have visited Weingut Wirsching a few times already on the Germany East Tour by ombiasy WineTours, which starts in Berlin and ends in Frankfurt, after having toured the Sachsen, Saale-Unstrut, Franken and Württemberg wine regions.

 

See: Tour and Tasting at Weingut Wirsching in Iphofen in Franken with General Manager Uwe Matheus – Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

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Tour and Tasting at Weingut Wirsching in Iphofen in Franken with General Manager Uwe Matheus – Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)