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Meissen

Besides Elstertal, one of the two areas of the German growing region of Saxony; see there.

The wine-growing region is located in the federal state of Saxony in Germany. There is no evidence that cultivated viticulture goes back to Bishop Benno of Meissen (1010-1106). Winegrowing on the Elbe was first mentioned in 1161 in a deed of gift to a Cistercian monastery by Otto, Margrave of Meissen (1156-1190). Elector Christian I (1560-1591) issued the first wine-growing regulations in 1588. At the beginning of the 17th century, wine-growing experts from Württemberg were brought to the Elbe to introduce cultivation methods "the Württemberg way", such as terracing the steep slopes with dry stone walls. Since viticulture was practised as far as the lowlands of the Elbe and had displaced food production there, Elector Johann Georg III. (1647-1691) issued the prohibition "Where the plough can go, no vine shall stand" in 1684. The Saxon royal house owned vineyards in Pillnitz and Wachwitz, which is indicated by the Royal Vineyard. In the mid-19th century there were still almost 1,700 hectares of vines, but a large part had been destroyed by mildew and phylloxera.

Climate and soil

The vineyards cover 501 hectares of vines north of the 51st parallel and stretch for 50 kilometres along the slopes of the Elbe and its tributaries. The easternmost German vineyard is located on the border with Poland. Since 2006, some vineyards in the federal state of Brandenburg with the four municipalities of Burkersdorf, Luckau, Neuzelle and Schenkendöbern have also been part of the Saxony wine-growing region. The Saxon Wine Route runs from Seußlitz in the north along the Elbe to Pirna just before the border with the Czech Republic. The soils consist mainly of slate with sandstone, clay, loam and loess. A continental climate prevails with hot, dry summers and occasionally harsh winters with late frosts.

Karte vom Anbaugebiet Sachsen

Areas, municipalities and locations

Saxony consists of two areas, four large vineyards and 23 individual vineyards. The Meissen area is divided into the large vineyards Schlossweinberg, Spaargebirge, Lössnitz and Elbhänge, while the Elstertal area with the three municipalities of Jessen, Kleindröben and Schlieben has no vineyards Großlage. The Brandenburg areas are free of single vineyards. The winegrowing communities with their single vineyard sites:

Grape variety list

Compared to 2009, there were no serious changes. There is no clearly dominant grape variety as in most other wine-growing regions. The four white wine varieties Müller-Thurgau, Riesling, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris are at the top with similar quantities. The status 2018 (0 = smaller than 0.5 ha):

Grape variety
dt. Main name
In Germany
common synonyms
Colour Hectare
2018
%-
Ant
Hectare

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Markus J. Eser

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Markus J. Eser
Weinakademiker und Herausgeber „Der Weinkalender“

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