Wirsching

Region: Franken

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.

In 1630 Hans Wirsching donated a vineyard to the Abbey at Ebrach. The sale is one of the first instances documenting the Wirsching family’s involvement in wine. Throughout the centuries the Wirsching’s have continued their love for, and involvement in, the business of agriculture and wine growing.
In the late 19th century, the phylloxera plague devastated the European wine industry. Andreas Wirsching died at an early age, and his widow focused on a shop which fed children in the village. Andreas’ passing could have easily spelled the end of wine production for the Wirsching family. However, in 1918, Andreas’ son Hans Wirsching returned from World War I. Hans was only 23 at the time, but he made the decision to put all of his energy into rebuilding the vineyards. He not only restarted the winery, but also began the painstaking process of replanting the vineyards with American rootstocks. Hans obtained Scheurebe cuttings from the Annaberg in the early 1950s (like Karl Fuhrmann at Pfeffingen / Pfalz) and transplanted them in the Kronsberg vineyard. We can credit both the Wirsching and Pfeffingen estates, and their pioneering efforts, for making a place for the Scheurebe grape in German viticulture.

Terroir: “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. The wines of Iphofen are full bodied with hints of herbaceous aromas and elegant fruit components.

As member of the elite wine association VDP-Die Prädikatsweingüter they have very high production and quality standards. The quality levels are VDP.Gutswein (estate), VDP.Ortswein (village), VDP.Erste Lage (Premier Cru), VDP.Große Lage (Grand Cru). Wirsching is member of Fair N’Green, a sustainable certificate.

Estate Profile

Owner

Andrea Wirsching

Wine Makers

Dr. Klaus-Peter Heigel

History

Since 1630 (14th generation)

Growing Area

90 hectares

Bottle Production

37,000 cases

Vineyards

Iphöfer Julius Echter Berg
Iphöfer Kronsberg

Soils

Julius Echter Berg – Grey-brown gypsum marl (Jurassic clay) with layers of sedimented red sandstone

Iphöfer Kronsberg – Grey-brown gypsum marl (Jurassic clay), clay and loam, jammed full with calcium

Varietals

40% Silvaner
20% Riesling
18% Traminer
8% Pinot Blanc
7% Pinot Noir
7% Scheurebe

Wines

Wirsching Estate Rosé
Wirsching Terroir Silvaner Liter
Wirsching Estate Silvaner
Wirsching Estate Scheurebe
Wirsching Iphöfer Silvaner
Wirsching Iphöfer Scheurebe
Wirsching Iphöfer Kalb Silvaner
Wirsching Iphöfer Julius-Echter-Berg Silvaner GG
Wirsching Iphöfer Julius-Echter-Berg Riesling GG
Wirsching Iphöfer Julius-Echter-Berg Silvaner BA
Wirsching Iphöfer Julius-Echter-Berg Riesling TBA

Dry vs Sweet

99% Dry

Eco-Friendly

Practicing Eco-Friendly

VDP Member

Member since 1983

Trade Resources

Wirsching Terroir Silvaner Liter

Wirsching Estate Silvaner

Wirsching Estate Scheurebe

Wirsching Iphöfer Silvaner

Wirsching Iphöfer Scheurebe

Wirsching Iphöfer Kalb Silvaner

Wirsching Iphöfer Julius-Echter-Berg Silvaner GG

Wirsching Iphöfer Julius-Echter-Berg Riesling GG

Wirsching Iphöfer Julius-Echter-Berg Silvaner BA

Wirsching Iphöfer Julius-Echter-Berg Riesling TBA

Wirsching Terroir Silvaner Liter

Wirsching Estate Silvaner

Wirsching Estate Scheurebe

Wirsching Iphöfer Silvaner

Wirsching Iphöfer Scheurebe

Wirsching Iphöfer Kalb Silvaner

Wirsching Iphöfer Julius-Echter-Berg Silvaner GG

Wirsching Iphöfer Julius-Echter-Berg Riesling GG

Wirsching Iphöfer Julius-Echter-Berg Silvaner BA

Wirsching Iphöfer Julius-Echter-Berg Riesling TBA