4 editor-picked estates growing Chardonnay in Franken.
Where to taste Chardonnay in Franken: the estates that grow it, how the region expresses the grape, and how to book a visit.
Mainviereck red-wine estate at over 60 percent Spaetburgunder and Fruehburgunder on red Buntsandstein at Buergstadt, run by Paul and Sebastian Fuerst since 2018.
Tasting: Sales by appointment, weekdays 9am to noon and 2 to 5pm, Saturdays 10am to 3pm.
Tip: The Buergstadter Centgrafenberg bottlings are the estate's flagship Pinot Noir; book ahead, allocations sell out.
Naturland and Respekt-BIODYN certified Wuerzburg estate farming 43.3 hectares on the Stettener Stein and Wuerzburger Stein, with Silvaner and Riesling as declared mainstays.
Tasting: Vinothek and garden tastings at the Mittlerer Steinbergweg estate.
Tip: The Stettener Stein VDP.Grosse Lage bottlings need hand cultivation on shell-limestone slopes; ask which vintage is currently pouring.
Naturland-certified organic estate in the Retzstadt side valley, farming 17 hectares at 78 percent Silvaner, a VDP member since 2014 under the May family.
Tasting: Cellar-door sales in Retzstadt by appointment.
Tip: The estate's tagline is Nichts fuer Anfaenger, nothing for beginners, a fair warning about how dry and structured the Silvaner runs.
Small family estate on the Escherndorfer Lump, farming 5.8 hectares under Peter and Sophie Schaeffer since 2022, with Silvaner leading a dry Franconian range.
Tasting: Cellar-door sales in Volkach-Escherndorf, Monday to Saturday.
Tip: Recently planted Chardonnay is a new departure for the estate, worth asking about alongside the core Silvaner.