Sachsen (Saxony) in eastern Germany is one of the world's northernmost wine regions, located at a latitude of 51 degrees north. The roughly 1150 acres (460ha) of vines in the region are planted along a 25 mile (40km) stretch of the Elbe river valley, from Pillnitz near the city of Dresden, in a north-easterly direction to Diesbar-Seusslitz, just downstream of the city of Meissen.
Despite its northerly location, Sachsen has a long history of viticulture, with the earliest documents of wine-growing around Meissen dating to 1161. Since Germany's reunification in 1990, great enthusiasm has gone into building and developing the Sachsen wine industry; there are many part-time growers and an enthusiastic local market. Investment is needed to boost quality however, and with yields roughly half that of other German wine regions, investors' enthusiasm has not matched that of the growers.
Sachsen's climate is cold-moderate continental with an annual mean temperature of 50F (10C). The average temperature in January is 31F (-0.5C) and in July it is 64F (18C). However, winter temperatures can drop as low as -18F (-28C).
Sachsen's wines are also influenced by the soils and geology of the Elbe Valley. Carboniferous granite, and feldspar with some mica and quartz are found, as is sandstone. This is often is overlayered by loess, clay and sand deposits.
Müller-Thurgau, Riesling and Weissburgunder are the main grape varieties grown here, along with Goldriesling (a regional specialty), Grauburgunder, Spatburgunder and Traminer.
Sachsen has three Bereiche – Dresden, Elstertal and Meissen. Only Beriech Meissen has a VDP-classified Erste Lage vineyard site – Schloss Proschwitz in Zadel.
Proschwitz has a relatively gentle 10% slope and the Elbe river makes a particularly positive impact, moderating the frigid winter temperatures experienced in the hinterland of the Elbe. Burgundy varieties especially love the combination of loess soil and granite bedrock. The combination of red granite and a loess clay layer up to 20 feet (6m) deep produces fruity, elegant wines with fine minerality.
