At the "Best of Gold 2017" competition, a jury of 44 experts assembled by the Franconian Winegrowers' Association determined the ten best wines of the growing region. With 363 wines from 93 wineries, there was a record entry this year, the association announced. The prerequisite for participation was a gold medal at the Franconian Wine Awards. The tasting and award ceremony took place in Würzburg's Hotel Schloss Steinburg.
Often only "by the blink of an eye", according to the association, the ten winning wines out of 97 final wines were awarded prizes. A further 20 wines achieved nominee status. The "Best of Gold 2017" winners are:
Category I - Red Wine
Burgundy
2013 Sommeracher Katzenkopf Pinot Noir Spätlese
Daniel Then Winery, Sommerach
Other grape varieties and cuvées
2015 Stammheimer Eselsberg Domina Quality Wine
Dereser Winery, Stammheim
Category II - Cabinet and quality wines
dry white wines, max. 12.5 % alcohol
Silvaner
2015 Volkacher Ratsherr Silvaner Kabinett
Winery Römmert, Volkach
Other grape varieties
2015 Obervolkacher Landsknecht Riesling Kabinett
Winery Walter Erhard, Volkach
Category III - Premium white wines
Premium
2015 Eibelstadter Kapellenberg Silvaner Spätlese,
Winery Max Markert, Eibelstadt
Fruit
2015 Volkacher Kirchberg Riesling Spätlese Old Vines
Winery Zehnthof, Tobias Weickert, Sommerach
Aroma
2015 Sommeracher Katzenkopf Scheurebe Late Harvest
Winery Stephan Strobel, Sommerach
Wood
2016 Nordheimer Vögelein Gewürztraminer Late Harvest
Winery Rudloff, Nordheim am Main
Category IV - noble sweet white wines
Noble sweet
2015 Sommeracher Katzenkopf Silvaner Trockenbeerenauslese
Sommerach Winegrowers, Sommerach
Noble sweet fruit
2015 Escherndorfer Lump Riesling Beerenauslese Erste Lage
Winery Horst Sauer, Escherndorf
(uka / Photo: Franconian Winegrowers' Association - Rudi Merkl)