Silvaner

Silvaner
Grape (Vitis)
Silvaner in Viala & Vermorel
Color of berry skin	Blanc
Species	Vitis vinifera
Also called	Sylvaner, Gros-Rhin, Grüner Silvaner, Johannisberger, Sylvaner verde (more)
Origin	Central Europe, possibly Austria
Notable regions	Alsace, Austria, Franconia, other regions of Germany
VIVC number	11805

Silvaner or Sylvaner (German: [zɪlˈvaːnɐ] ^ⓘ) is a variety of white wine grape grown primarily in Alsace and Germany, where its official name is Grüner Silvaner. While the Alsatian versions have primarily been considered simpler wines, it was included among the varieties that can be used to produce Alsace Grand Cru wine in 2006, together with the four 'noble grapes' of Alsace, although only in one vineyard, Zotzenberg.

This dichotomy is explained by the vigour of the Sylvaner vine and the grape's neutral flavour, which can lead to blandness unless yields are controlled. On the other hand, it gives a blank canvas for the expression of terroir, and on good sites with skilled winemaking, Sylvaner can produce elegant wines. It has high acidity but naturally reaches high must weights, so is often blended with other varieties such as Riesling or Elbling, and is sometimes made into a dessert wine.

History

Sylvaner is an ancient variety that has long been grown in

Sylvaner is the wine chosen by the protagonist of Julio Cortázar's novel 62 Modelo para armar on the firsts pages, when entering the Parisian restaurant Polidor “Why did I ask for a bottle of Sylvaner?”.

Distribution and wines

Australia

In the 1970s Brown Brothers experimented with "Syilvaner" in northeastern Victoria, but nothing seems to have come of it.^[6]

Austria

There are just 34 hectares (84 acres) of Sylvaner in its land of origin, due to the trend in Austrian wine towards drier styles.^[7]

Croatia

Sylvaner (silvanac zeleni in Croatian) is grown in Eastern Croatia, in the regions of Slavonija and Srijem, as well as in other regions. In recent years high-quality semi-dry Silvanac zeleni from Orahovica has become one of Croatia's more popular whites.

France

Sylvaner has a controversial place in

First recorded at Castell in 1659, Silvaner (with an 'i') reached a peak in the 1960s-1970s, with 30% of German vineyards. However overproduction during the Liebfraumilch years ruined its reputation, and it has since retreated to its stronghold in

The official name of the variety in Germany is Grüner Silvaner, spelled with an "i" in difference from Alsace and its homeland of Austria.[3]

The Silvaner is not usually matured in

Romania

In Transylvania, presumed to be the homeland of Silvaner, two varieties of this grape are grown: the Sylvaner roz (rosé) and the Sylvaner Verde B (Grüner Silvaner, Silvaner) in wineyards as Jidvei (Tarnava) and Nachbil (Dealurile Sătmarului - Satu Mare)

Slovakia

Silvaner is traditionally grown in the Limbach village in Slovakia, that is famous for its varietal Silvaner wines, and in its surroundings.

Switzerland

Some is grown in Switzerland, where it is known as Johannisberger or Sylvaner with an "y".

United States

In 1858, Emil Dresel brought the first Sylvaner cuttings to America and planted them on what is now the Scribe Estate in Sonoma County. In his honor, Scribe Winery planted one acre in 2007. It has been grown for many years at Rancho Sisquoc Winery in the Santa Maria Valley of California. Otherwise, Sylvaner has more or less disappeared from California, where it was known as Sylvaner Riesling, Franken Riesling, Monterey Riesling, and Sonoma Riesling. Oregon does have some Sylvaner at David Hill Vineyards in Forest Grove.

Red and Blue Silvaner

Varieties of Red Silvaner ^[12] and Blue Silvaner grapes are mutated varieties and are produced in small quantities

The wine areas of Baden-Württemberg are best known for producing red wines, most of which are locally consumed and not well known outside Germany.^[13][14] Adjacent wine region Franken in Bayern (Franconia) has a similar continental type warm dry summer and is often planted with white silvaner grapes with small plantings of red silvaner grapes.^[15][16]

Red silvaner mutates easily, with more than 200 varieties researched. Quality producers put much interest into new clone varieties for eventual replacement of traditional varieties.^[17][18]

Blue silvaner is thought to be a natural cross between red and green silvaner, while red silvaner is thought to originate from natural mutation of green silvaner.^[19]

A German red sylvaner wine from 2017 has been rated among the top 6% of wines in the country.^[20]

Vine and viticulture

The vine is vigorous and productive, with three-lobed leaves. The bunches are small and cylindrical, with medium green berries that ripen quickly.

In 1940, Silvaner was crossed with Chasselas to produce the white grape variety Nobling.^[21]

Synonyms

Silvaner is also known under the following synonyms: Arvine, Arvine Grande, Augustiner Weiss, Beregi Szilvani, Boetzinger, Clozier, Cynifadl Zeleny, Cynifal, Fliegentraube, Frankenriesling, Frankentraube, Fueszeres Szilvani, Gamay blanc, GentilvVert, Gros Rhin, Gros-rhin, Gruen Silvaner, Gruenedel, Gruenfraenkisch, Grün Silvaner, Haeusler Schwarz, Johannisberger, Mishka, Momavaka, Monterey Riesling, Moravka, Movavka, Muschka, Mushza, Musza, Nemetskii Rizling, Oesterreicher, Oestreicher, Pepltraube, Picardon blanc, Picardou blanc, Plant Du Rhin, Rhin, Rundblatt, Salfin, Salfine Bely, Salvaner, Salviner, Scharvaner, Scherwaner, Schoenfeilner, Schwaebler, Schwuebler, Sedmogradka, Sedmogradska Zelena, Selenzhiz, Selivan, Silvánské zelené, Sylván zelený, Sonoma Riesling, Sylvaner, Sylvaner verde, Szilvani Feher, Tschafahnler, Yesil Silvaner, Zelencic, Zeleny, Zierfandler, Zierifandel, Zinifal, Zoeld Szilvani, Zoeldsilvani,^[22] Syilvaner, Siylvaner, Sylvaner vert, Grüner Sylvaner, Grünfraenkisch, Franken Riesling^[6] and Grüner Silvaner.

See also

• German wine

References