Sylvaner, also known as Silvaner, is an ancient white grape variety native to Central Europe, now believed to be the result of a spontaneous cross between Traminer and Österreichisch Weiss. Having reached Germany from the Alpine region, it has been documented in Franconia since 1659, a region that has made it one of its wine-growing symbols. It is mainly grown in Germany – particularly in Franconia and Rheinhessen – as well as in Alsace, Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and South Tyrol, where it finds a particularly distinctive expression in the Isarco Valley. The leaf is medium-sized, generally round or slightly three-lobed, with a thin margin and a slightly pitted surface. The bunch is medium-sized, cylindrical or cylindrical-conical, sometimes winged and of varying compactness; the berries, yellow-green in colour, are spherical in shape, with a thin skin and juicy, mucilaginous flesh. The wine is a bright straw-yellow colour, with subtle aromas of apple, pear, white peach, fresh herbs, hay and, in the most suitable soils, a distinct mineral note. On the palate, it offers freshness, well-defined acidity, balance and a structure that can become full-bodied and creamy, particularly in wines from old vines or rich soils. The more ambitious versions possess good ageing potential and develop greater complexity. In South Tyrol, it retains the traditional spelling ‘Sylvaner’, a curious detail that highlights its deep connection with local tradition.
