Hans Wirsching Silvaner, Iphöfer Kalb, Franken, Germany 2023

Weingut Hans Wirsching is one of the largest privately owned family estates in Germany, situated in the picturesque medieval town of Iphofen in Franconia, 1.4 hours east of Frankfurt. Now in its 14th generation, the Wirsching family with CEO Andrea Wirsching produces 37,000 cases on 225 acres of vineyards. They focus on Silvaner (40%), the signature grape of the Franconian wine area. 20% of their vineyards are planted with Riesling, the classical German grape, and 7% with Scheurebe, a fruity grape with aromas like Sauvignon Blanc.

• WINEMAKER: Klaus Peter Heigel, Owned by Andrea Wirsching
  
• FARMING: Sustainable with Organic Practices (Wirsching is member of Fair N’Green, a sustainable certificate in Germany)
  
• VARIETY: 100% Silvaner
• TERROIR: Iphöfer Kalb is a steep slope with great southenly sun exposure. The gypsum soilk warms up easily, and the mild climate and long growing season enables the vines to gain concentration and pull minerals from the soils. The “Keuper” (Jurassic Clay) is a sediment stone from the time when dinosaurs walked through the swamps 220 million years ago. Layers of Gypsum within that stone give the wines low acidity.
• VINIFICATION: Stainless steel.
  
• TASTING NOTES: Strong, full-bodied but clean and crystaline. Savory finish, and subtle fruitiness of quince, apple, and pear.