Winemaker Andi Weigand

Magnificent nature, as far as the eye can see. Plenty of people are busying themselves on the vineyards in Franconia. It is autumn and harvest has begun. It is the same in Iphofen: The Weigand family have been running their winery here since 1990. From grandparents to grandson – and the grandson is now turning a few things on their head.

Rediscovering old traditions

Andi Weigand is a real free spirit. He is young, confident and has a real passion for good wines. New ideas, new labels, new names: The trained vintner is transforming his father’s winery into a modern business. Werner Weigand is not fighting the change – quite the opposite: The experienced vintner is supporting his son however he can. He is giving him the freedom and the responsibility. Three excellent product lines have arisen as a result: – “Der Wilde”, “Der Franke” and “Der Held”; “The Wild One”, “The Franconian” and “The Hero”.

Andi Weigand knows exactly what he wants: good wine, free from preservatives and made in line with old traditions. And the Franconian has invested a lot of time, love and talent into achieving this objective. He doesn’t harvest the vines with a machine; instead, every vine is picked by hand and checked for quality.

Instead of using stainless steel barrels, Andi Weigand ages the majority of his wine in wooden barrels. Just as was the case around 70 years ago. It is this love of detail that makes the wild vintner and his winery so special. And Andi Weigand is convinced that this effort pays off in the final flavour. He lives in line with the motto: If you want to achieve something, you need to do it the hard way. For him, no path is too steep nor too long – he is a vintner with passion.

Together through thick and thin

The family pulls together in Franconia: Whilst father and son cultivate the vineyard, Granny Weigand is in charge of the real Franconian specialities: She treats the family to her tried-and-tested dishes like “Schäufele” (pork shoulder) or “blaue Zipfel” – pork shoulder with crackling and bratwurst cooked in a vinegar-flavoured stock.

Besides taking a tour of the wine cellar and enjoying a tasting, guests are also welcome to join the family in the vineyard. Whether to watch or to pitch in and help – Andi and Werner Weigand always enjoy visits during harvest time.

Franconia: home, tradition and a pure idyll

The wild vintner puts his heart and soul into his wine. Despite this, he sometimes needs to take some time to do other things; to clear his head and collect new ideas. But he stays true to Franconia during these periods too

It doesn’t matter whether he is cycling through the endless fields or walking through the Steigerwald forest – Andi Weigand loves his home. It is the peace and the impressive nature that give him the energy and inspiration he needs. New motivation to keep creating better wines and to impress even more people.