Rudolf Fürst in the Franken appellation was started in the 17th century and is owned and operated by the father and son team of Paul and Sebastian Fürst. Paul Fürst took over the estate in 1970 and today his son also is a winemaker. They are known for their Pinot Noirs, though they also grow Riesling, Silvaner, Pinot Blanc and other grapes. The 50-acre estate produces 9,500 cases a year. Wine Advocate has often awarded the wines ratings in the mid-90s, and called a recent vintage Pinot Noir “full-bodied, intense and powerful on the palate…. great complexity, length and aging potential.”