Silvaner, also sometimes spelled Sylvaner, is a white grape variety of Austrian origin that today is cultivated chiefly in Franken, Germany and Alsace, France.
Silvaner can bring high yields and make a light, neutral wine, however, when treated with respect, it becomes a grape variety that is absolutely expressive of site and soil. Silvaner has rather subtle aromas, often of herbs like chervil, fern, and fresh hay. Mature examples can have notions of salsify and white asparagus.
Silvaner is a natural crossing of Savagnin and Österreichisch Weiss which is thought to have occurred several centuries ago in eastern Austria. Silvaner has been documented in Germany since the late 17th century.
Silvaner’s spiritual home is the wine region of Franken in southern Germany. It is here that the grape reaches its apotheosis, expressing the character of the Triassic sandstone and limestone soils beautifully. Silvaner also is grown to a lesser extent in Germany’ s Rheinhessen. There are sizeable but declining plantings of Sylvaner in Alsace, where the variety is spelled with a ‘y’.
Silvaner once was the most widely planted grape variety in Germany, always reliable and ripening despite the then still much cooler climate.
This grape variety is also known by the name of:
Arvine, Arvine Grande, Augustiner Weiss, Augustraube Weisse, Beregi Szilvani, Boetzinger, Cilifantli, Gruenedel, Fliegentraube, Cynifadl Zeleny, Cynifal, Cynifal Zeleny, Frankentraube, Gelber Silvaner, Frankenriesling, Grande Arvine, Gentil Vert, Gros-Rhin, Gros Plant Du Rhin, Gros Rhin, Gruener Zierfahndler, Gruener Zierfahnler, Gruener Zierfandl, Gruener Zirfahndler, Gruenlich Gelber Sylvaner, Fueszeres Szilvani, Gruener Silvaner, Gruener Sylvaner, L'Auxerrois, Krupnyi Risling, Oesterreicher, Nemetskii Rizling, Picardon Blanc, Picardor Blanc, Picardou Blanc, Musza, Oestreicher, Mishka, Momavaka, Mushza, Mushka, Salfin, Salfine Bely, Salfin Belyi, Salvenier, Salvaner, Salviner, Salvener, Oesterreicher Gruener, Pepitraube, Pepltraube, Gruener Zirfantler, Gruenfraenkisch, Monterey Riesling, Mourton, Rhin, Plant Du Rhin, Raisin D'Autriche, Sedmogradka, Movavka, Seleni Kleshez, Sedmogradska Zelena, Selenzhiz, Selivan, Plant Du Reno, Schwuebler, Tschafahndler, Silvaner Green, Rundblatt, Silvaner gruee, Silvaner Gruener, Silvaner Verde, Zoeld Szilvani, Tschafahnler, Scharvaner, Silvaner Vert, Sylvanske Rane, Rizling silvani zölt, Sonoma Riesling, Silvaner White, Zierifandler, Ziehfaedler, Zierfahndler, Zierifandel, Silvani Zoeld, Zelencic, Zeleni Silvanac, Zeleny, Scherwaner, Silvain Vert, Zeleni Silvanec, Silvaner Bianco, Silvaner Bianco Franken, Zelena, Zoeld Silvani, Silvaner Blanc, Zelena Sedmogradka, Silvania, Silvanske, Schoenfeiler, Silvanske Zelene, Silvanac Zeleni, Sylvanske Zelene, Silvanai Zeleni, Silvaner, Weisser Oesterreicher, Schwaebler, Weissblanke, Szilvani Feher, Sylvaner, Sylvan Zeleny, Weisser Silvaner, Sylvaner Green, Sylvaner Verde, Weisser Augustiner, Sylvaner Gruen, Sylvaner Vert, Sylvanertraube, Zoeldsilvani, Schoenfeilner, Zoeldszilvani, Yesil Silvaner, Zinifal
