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Sylvaner (often spelled Silvaner in Germany) is a historic and highly refreshing white grape variety, bringing the most fame to the Alsace region in France and the Franken (Franconia) region in Germany. It produces elegant wines characterized by aromas of green apples, fresh hay, and white flowers. It is an excellent, light everyday wine that surprises with its pronounced minerality and vitality.
Read moreDifferent European regions impart a completely different character to this grape, so it is important to consider the wine's place of origin when making your choice.
Sylvaner wines produced in Alsace, France, are usually light-bodied, very crisp, refreshing, and meant to be consumed young. They are perfect for hot summer days. Meanwhile, in Germany's Franken region, this grape is a true star—here it produces more serious, fuller-bodied wines with a creamier texture and deep earthy minerality (often bottled in the traditional flat Bocksbeutel flasks).
Sylvaner is one of the best gastronomic wines due to its subtlety (it does not overpower the flavor of the food). It is arguably one of the only wines in the world that pairs flawlessly with fresh asparagus. It also matches perfectly with traditional onion tart, oysters, white fish, and light chicken salads.
Although both wines are often grown in the same regions, Sylvaner has lower acidity and a more subtle, less perfumed aroma than Riesling. Sylvaner's aromas are dominated by herbs, damp earth, and mild stone fruits, whereas Riesling stands out with vibrant citrus, peaches, and high, sometimes even "biting" acidity.
The vast majority of standard Sylvaner wines are made for quick consumption (within 1–3 years) while they retain their primary crispness. However, Grand Cru level wines (e.g., from the Zotzenberg vineyard in Alsace) or premium wines from Franken have excellent potential and can age in the bottle for 5–10 years, developing notes of honey and almonds.
