My special tip in the Churfranken region is to visit the Häckerwirtschaft and enjoy wine directly from the vintner.
Häckerwirtschaften in Churfranken
Franconian winegrowers used to be called Häcker. This gave rise to the name for an inn that is only open temporarily at certain times. In other regions of Germany, the term Straußwirtschaft or Besenwirtschaft is also used.
In Churfranken, the Häckerwirtschaften usually open for two to four weeks. They serve home-produced wine and food made mostly from regional products. The Häckerwirtschaften are often located in small courtyards or in the gardens of the wineries. This creates a very special flair and a cosiness that is almost familiar. People move together so that every visitor can find a seat.
Häckerwirtschaft Winery Helmstetter in Bürgstadt
The Häckerwirtschaft at the Helmstetter winery (Bainweg 1) takes place about 5 times a year. Tables and benches are set up in front of the family’s vinotel, sufficiently spaced apart but still offering a cosy atmosphere.
A small menu offers a varied cuisine from tarte flambée to goat cheese au gratin. The winery’s own excellent wine is served with it.
Häckerwirtschaft Winery Hofmann-Herkert in Klingenberg
In Klingenberg is the Hofmann-Herkert winery (Schenkenstr. 8-10). Here we stopped for lunch at the Häckerwirtschaft.
You sit comfortably in the courtyard or under the wine arbour and can choose your meal from the rather hearty menu. I opted for venison sausages with potato salad. The sausages were very good, excellently seasoned and fried just right.
I also very much enjoyed the Winzerstange sandwich with cheese and sausage, which I ate on a second visit. The Bacchus “Churfranken” (2021) from the winery went very well with it.
The right wine for every meal is also quickly found, and they are happy to help you make the right choice.
List of the Häckerwirtschaften in Churfranken
If you would like to visit a Häckerwirtschaft in the Churfranken region, you can of course drive through the towns on the off-chance and look for the signs. Or – and this is of course much easier – find the place on the website linked here.
Churfrankenvinothek Bürgstadt
The unusual building of the Churfrankenvinothek immediately catches the eye in Bürgstadt near Miltenberg. A modern and bright-looking building that doesn’t really fit into the town visually. What does fit, however, is the theme of wine and cuisine, presented here in a modern and regional way.
In the vinotheque, you can not only buy a wide variety of wines from the region, but also enjoy a glass of wine. The wine selection is huge, with products from around 30 vintners on offer. But you can also find a bottle or two from local distilleries.
Ricardo Shears, a trained chef and sommelier, has been running the vinotheque since the end of 2021. He wants to attract friends of good cuisine to the vinotheque with a small menu that is made almost exclusively with products from regional suppliers. We were able to taste a small potpourri of what he offers, and I enjoyed it very much.
The different wines and sparkling wines that we could taste were also a pleasure. We started with a rosé secco from the Hensch winery. The sparkling wine smelled lightly of strawberries, was wonderfully light and for me a great summer treat. Then we were offered a Pinot Noir Blanc de Noir from the Neuberger winery. This sparkling wine is fermented in the bottle and lies for at least half a year before it goes on sale.
Finally, there were two wonderful summer wines. From the Anja Stritzinger winery, we were able to taste a spontaneously fermented Riesling Pur, matured in wooden barrels. I have rarely tasted a wine that smelled so much like sherry and spread a strong taste on the palate. In complete contrast was the rosé from the Fürst Löwenstein winery. The Pinot Noir from 2020 tasted light and was a wonderful summer wine.
Leave a Reply