The 527 kilometre-long river (Maa, Mää, Mee in dialect) is the longest right tributary of the Rhine. It originates from a confluence of the source rivers Weißer Main (Fichtelgebirge) and Roter Main (Frankische Alb) in Bavaria-Germany. The Main flows in a large W-shape between the towns of Aschaffenburg and Schweinfurt through the wine-growing region of Franconia. All the vineyards are planted on south-facing valley slopes on the banks of the Main or in side valleys of its tributaries (Franconian Saale, Kinzig, Nidda, Regnitz, Tauber).

Main triangle and Main quadrangle

After flowing through the metropolitan areas of Würzburg and Frankfurt am Main, it flows into the Rhine opposite the historic centre of Mainz between Ginsheim-Gustavsburg and the Wiesbaden district of Mainz-Kostheim. The course of the Main forms two striking geometric landscapes in Lower Franconia, namely the Main triangle and the Main quadrangle, which also gave their names to two Franconian wine-growing regions.

Vineyards

The majority of Franconian vineyards, totalling around 4,200 hectares, are located directly on or around the Main triangle. A special feature is the wine island in the district of Kitzingen between an original branch of the Main (Altmain) and the Main canal between Volkach and Gerlachshausen. Viticulture is practised on this island, which was created by human influence. The Main quadrangle covers only 330 hectares. Like all bodies of water (rivers, streams, lakes, seas), the Main has a climate-regulating, positive influence on viticulture.

Image: By Lencer - own work, in Co-Operation with Leo2004, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link