Sylvaner

APPEARANCE

ON THE VINE: quite large berries, with skin that’s tougher than most other white grape varieties. The bunch is short and shouldered.

IN THE GLASS: clear pale hue with a greenish tint.

 

SMELL

Fruit salad with touches of granadilla, lime, tropical punch and Muscat.

TASTE

Sylvaner has a spicy aftertaste. A fuller flavour is obtained from vineyards that are older and fruit that is harvested riper. As the wine matures, it may develop kerosene, Riesling-like flavours.

ORIGIN

Sylvaner is the French name for the German variety known as Silvaner. The largest plantings of Silvaner occur in Germany, where it replaced Elbling in the first half of the 20th century to become the country's most planted grape variety. More recently, its status has been succeeded by the earlier ripening, higher yielding Müller-Thurgau. Sylvaner is said to have originated in Austria, as can be deduced from its Rheingau synonym Österreicher, though some believe Transylvania is the grape's true birthplace. Wild vines cultivated on the banks of the Danube were forerunners of modern day Sylvaner, while a variety known as Silvaner was cultivated extensively throughout the vineyards of medieval Germany.

IN SOUTH AFRICA

Sylvaner was introduced in the '70s, with the German winemaking influence prevailing in South Africa at the time. Nederburg bottled a few vintages until the variety was culled due to lack of demand. Today, Overgaauw is the only estate to bottle a single varietal Sylvaner in the Cape, though production is tiny.

ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD

Besides Germany and France, Sylvaner is also grown in Slovenia, Russia, Hungary and Switzerland. California and Australia have small plantings, too.

BEST EXAMPLES

From Alsace: the wines of Boeckel and Seltz and the Zotzenberg vineyard in Mittelbergheim. From Germany: most of the country's finest Silvaners come from Franken. Silvaner is a parent in a wide variety of Germany's modern vine crossings such as Bacchus, Ehrenfelser, Morio-Muskat, Optima, Rieslaner and Scheurebe. Blauer Silvaner, a dark berried mutation, is a speciality of Württemberg.

AGEING POTENTIAL

In years past, Sylvaner was reputed to age as well as Riesling. Recent vintages tend to be for earlier drinking.

MATCHING WITH FOOD

Seafood, especially mussels.

SERVING TEMPERATURE

Between 8° and 14° C.