In 1961, a bottle of Steinwein from 1540 was opened in London.
According to Hugh Johnson, the famous wine writer and author of The Story of Wine, this bottle of wine after more than 400 years is still in good condition, with a pleasant taste and vitality.
This wine is from the Franken region of Germany, one of the most famous vineyards in Stein, and 1540 is also a legendary vintage. It is said that that year the Rhine was so hot that people could walk on the river, and wine was cheaper than water. The grapes that year were very sweet, perhaps this is the chance of this bottle of Franken wine for more than 400 years.
Franken is located in northern Bavaria, Germany, which is in the heart of Germany on the map. Speaking of the center, one cannot help but think of the “French wine center” – Sancerre and Pouilly in the central region of the Loire. Similarly, Franconia has a continental climate, with warm summers, cold winters, frost in spring and early fall in autumn. The River Main winds its way through the entire appellation with great views. Like the rest of Germany, Franconia’s vineyards are mostly distributed along the river, but the difference is that the flagship variety here is Silvaner rather than Riesling.
In addition, the Muschelkalk soil in and around the historic Stein Vineyard is quite similar to the Kimmeridgian soils in Sancerre and Chablis, and the Silvaner and Riesling grapes planted on this soil perform even better.
Both Franconia and Sancerre produce excellent dry white wines, but Silvaner’s planting percentage in Franconia is far less than that of Sancerre’s Sauvignon Blanc, accounting for only five of the region’s plantings. Müller-Thurgau is one of the most widely planted grape varieties in the region.
Silvaner wines are usually light and easy to drink, mild and suitable for food pairing, but Franconian Silvaner wines are more than that, rich and restrained, firm and powerful, with earthy and mineral flavors, and strong aging ability. The undisputed king of the Franconian region. The first time I drank Franken’s Silvaner at the fair that year, I fell in love with it at first sight and never forgot it, but I rarely saw it again. It is said that Franconian wines are not exported much and are mainly consumed locally.
However, the most impressive thing in the Franconian region is the Bocksbeutel. The origin of this oblate short-necked bottle is uncertain. Some people say that this bottle shape comes from the jug of the local shepherd. It is not afraid of it rolling and disappearing on the ground. There is also a saying that the pot-bellied bottle was invented by missionaries who often traveled to facilitate the packaging of wine and books. It all sounds reasonable.
The Portuguese rosé Mateus, which sells a lot, is also of this special bottle shape. The pink wine looks good in a transparent bottle, while Franken’s pot-bellied bottle is usually a very down-to-earth, rustic green or brown.
Post time: Apr-28-2023