The winery is located in the municipality of Volkach (Maindreieck area) in the German wine-growing region of
Franconia. It was founded in 1933 by the grandfather of the current owner Heinrich-Josef Pfaff. As the cellar master of the local cooperative at the time, he became self-employed by buying the hotel "Zur Schwane" and also began to grow grapes on some vineyards. From the 1960s onwards, the business was expanded by Michael Pfaff (son of the founder). Since 1997, it has been run by Eva-Pfaff-Düker and Ralph Düker. The name is derived from a family called Schwan, who ran an inn on the site of the present hotel at the beginning of the 15th century.
The vineyards cover 15 hectares of vineyards in the single vineyard sites
Fürstenberg and
Lump (Escherndorf), Landsknecht (Obervolkach), Höll (Obereisenheim),
Ratsherr (Volkach) and Zehntgraf (Wipfeld). They are planted with the white wine varieties Silvaner (50%), Riesling (25%), Müller-Thurgau, Bacchus, Kerner and Rieslaner, as well as Pinot Noir. Special emphasis is placed on selective harvesting and completely healthy grapes. The grapes are processed gently. Fermentation is temperature-controlled in steel tanks. Fining and filtration are only carried out when necessary to preserve fruitiness and freshness. The red wine "Fervor Oloris" (Passion or Embers of the Swan) is made from Pinot Noir and matures for 15 months in French barriques. The Franconian classics are bottled in Bocksbeutel. Lightly vinified wines are marketed in the Bordeaux bottle. Bottle-fermented sparkling wines and spirits are also produced. The winery is a member of the
VDP (Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates).