Saxony/Sachsen

Wine-growing region in Germany, named after the federal state of Saxony, in which it is located. The vineyard area totals 446 hectares, this is the smallest wine-growing region in Germany, and the most easterly one. It has a mild continental climate with medium rainfall, hot, fairly dry summers and occasionally harsh winters, and the capital of Dresden is sometimes also known as ”Florence on the Elbe”. Wine has been produced in the region since medieval times, the oldest relevant document is dated 1161 AD. The royal house of Saxony owned some vineyards in Pillnitz and Wachwitz. One of the oldest viticultural schools was established in the famous porcelain-manufacturing town of Meissen. Most of the vineyards are terraced, and stretch over a distance of 50 kilometres along the slopes above the Elbe river and its tributaries. The Sächsische Weinstrasse wine route runs from Seußlitz in the north along the Elbe river as far as Pirna, just short of the border with the Czech Republic. The wine-growing region Sachsen consists of two districts, four regional sites and 16 single vineyard sites. The Meissen district is divided into the regional sites Schloss-Weinberg, Spaargebirge, Lössnitz and Elbhänge, the Elstertal district does not have any regional sites. The soils are varied, ranging from decomposed granite and granite-porphyry mixtures to clay, loess and sandstone. Among the best-known producers are Schloss Proschwitz, Schloss Wackerbarth and Zimmerling. The grape varieties planted are (as per 2001):
Variety Synonyms Colour Hectares % share
Müller-Thurgau Rivaner White 99 22,2
Riesling Weißer Riesling White 72 16,1
Pinot Blanc Weißburgunder White 59 13,2
Pinot Gris Ruländer, Grauburgunder White 39 8,7
Kerner - White 29 6,5
Traminer Roter Traminer White 29 6,5
Pinot Noir Spätburgunder Red 29 6,5
Elbling Kleinberger etc. White 18 4,0
Dornfelder - Red 18 4,0
Scheurebe Sämling 88 White 10 2,2
Bacchus - White 8 1,8
Chasselas Gutedel etc. White 5 1,1
Morio-Muskat Morio White 3 0,7
Blauer Portugieser Portugieser Red 3 0,7
Regent - Red 3 0,7
White varieties 386 86,5
Red varieties 60 13,5
TOTAL 446 100