Silvaner

Silvaner is a dry, light to medium-bodied white best known from Germany and Alsace in France. Expect green apple, pear and citrus with fresh herbs and a subtle mineral edge. Crisp, understated and brilliantly food-friendly, it’s a great match for asparagus, seafood, roast chicken, salads, pork and grilled vegetables.

Taste:

Fresh, subtle and quietly getting on with being excellent.

Silvaner is typically dry and light to medium-bodied, with refreshing acidity and flavours of green apple, pear, lemon and subtle stone fruit. You’ll often find fresh herbs, delicate floral notes and an earthy or mineral character alongside the fruit.

It’s generally less intensely aromatic than Riesling, which puts more emphasis on texture, freshness and where the grapes were grown.

Some versions are light and incredibly easy to drink, while top examples – particularly from Franconia – can be richer, more structured and capable of ageing.

Silvaner isn't screaming for attention from across the wine list. Bit confident, that.

Food Pairings:

Silvaner has a particular talent for vegetables and fresh, herbal flavours.

Asparagus is one of its classic matches, whether grilled, roasted or served with butter. Try it with artichokes, green beans, grilled courgette, roasted vegetables, vegetable tarts and fresh salads too.

For seafood, pair Silvaner with prawns, mussels, grilled fish, cod, sea bass or crab, particularly with lemon and fresh herbs.

It also works beautifully with roast chicken, grilled chicken, roast pork, pork chops and schnitzel.

For German food, try bratwurst, lighter pork dishes or potato-based dishes with fresh herbs.

On the cheese board, goat’s cheese, Brie and other mild, creamy cheeses work well.

Similar Wines:

If you enjoy Silvaner, Grüner Veltliner is a great next move for another dry white that loves vegetables, herbs and food in general.

Pinot Blanc offers similarly gentle apple, pear and citrus flavours, while Müller-Thurgau keeps things light, fresh and German.

Riesling is worth exploring if you want to turn up the acidity and aromatics while staying in familiar territory.

Enjoyed this one? Give it a heart and we'll use your favourites to recommend other wines we think you'll love.

More About Silvaner:

Silvaner has a long history in Central Europe and is particularly important in Franconia, or Franken, in Germany. It’s also grown in Rheinhessen and across the border in Alsace, France.

In Franconia, many of the region’s wines come in the distinctive flattened, rounded bottle known as a Bocksbeutel. So even if you forget the grape, there’s a decent chance you’ll remember the bottle.

Silvaner is particularly good at reflecting differences in soil and vineyard location, which is one reason serious producers value it despite its relatively understated flavour profile.

And yes, you'll sometimes see it spelled Sylvaner, particularly in Alsace.

Same grape. One extra letter. Mercifully straightforward by wine standards.