Photo: Freital, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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Saxony · Sub-regions

Dresden & Pillnitz

Within Dresden's city limits vines grow on the Elbe slopes of Loschwitz and Wachwitz, on the Royal Vineyard below Pillnitz Palace and upstream to Pirna. Klaus Zimmerling (Pillnitz, VDP) is regarded as one of eastern Germany's best estates; west of the city Cossebaude and Pesterwitz keep small winegrowing communities alive.

11Wineries

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Grape Varieties

Riesling, Weißburgunder

Grauburgunder, Traminer, Spätburgunder, Müller-Thurgau

Most Famous Site

Pillnitzer Königlicher Weinberg

Vineyard Area

120 ha

TERROIR PROFILE · Saxony

Dresden & Pillnitz Pläner sandstone on the Elbe slopes

Dresden & Pillnitz: fine, clear wines from sandstone and granite above the city.

☀ Cool continental⛰ Slope: moderateRieslingWeißburgunderGrauburgunderTraminer

What is terroir? →

SOILS

Graniteelegant, lightly spicy

Weathered granite produces elegant, slender wines with fine, lightly spicy profile.

Sandstonewarm, dry, spicy

Sandstone warms quickly and yields ripe, fragrant wines with yellow fruit and fine spice.

Loambody-rich, velvety

Loamy soils give wines volume and a soft, velvety mouthfeel.

CLIMATE · Cool continental

Saxony has around 1,570 hours of sunshine a year under a continental climate. The Dresden Elbe slopes lie in the Elbe valley, with the wine area stretching from the city to Pirna.

TOPOGRAPHY · moderate

Elbe slopes at Loschwitz and Wachwitz, the Königlicher Weinberg beneath Schloss Pillnitz, and sites upstream as far as Pirna. Small plantings also exist at Cossebaude and Pesterwitz.

WHAT IT MEANS IN THE GLASS

finecleargently mineralelegant

Typical Flavours of the Region

Region aroma cloud

ApplePeachCitrusApricotJasmineSlatePetrol (with age)PearAcaciaAlmondHoneyAlmond pastryRose petalLycheeMangoGingerCherryRaspberry

→ Aroma wheel and variety profiles

Saxony overview

This sub-region is part of Saxony. The map shows all 4 sub-regions — Dresden & Pillnitz is highlighted.

Overview

Wineries11

Detailed profiles6

Typical Varieties

Riesling

Weißburgunder

Grauburgunder

Traminer

Spätburgunder

Müller-Thurgau

Terroir & Climate

Wine Character

Winegrowing within Dresden's city limits lies on the Elbe slopes of Loschwitz and Wachwitz, at the Royal Vineyard below Pillnitz Palace, and extends upstream into the Pirna area. West of the city, Cossebaude and Pesterwitz keep small winegrowing communities alive. The Elbe shapes the sites: it forms a wide basin in Dresden and gives the slopes light and warmth.

The climate is continental, with warm, comparatively dry summers and cold winters; late frosts remain a risk but are partly softened by the river and the slope position. The soils consist of Pläner sandstone, granite, loam and loess; in the Elbe valley the vines often stand on terraces supported by dry-stone walls.

Riesling, Weißburgunder, Grauburgunder and Traminer are grown, along with Müller-Thurgau and Spätburgunder. The whites are dry, mineral and usually marked by lively acidity. Klaus Zimmerling in Pillnitz (VDP) is regarded as one of the best estates in eastern Germany.

Soil Type

Pläner sandstone, granite, loam and loess

Climate

Continental with warm, comparatively dry summers and cold winters; the Elbe softens late frosts but cannot rule them out.

Top sites & producers

4 sites

The most important classified single vineyards in the region. Classification per VDP (German Prädikat Wine Estates Association) and traditional vineyard registers.

By place (4)

Dresden & Pillnitz4 entries

Cossebauder BauernbergeDresdner ElbhängePesterwitzer JochhöhschlösschenPillnitzer Königlicher Weinberg

Sources: VDP, state vineyard registers, Wikipedia vineyard articles, traditional vineyard literature.

Top profiles

6 detailed profiles — all filterable in the list below

Weingut Frédéric Fourré

Sachsen · Dresden & Pillnitz · Dresden

GlobalRegional

Spitzenweingut

Riesling, Weißburgunder, Traminer

Weingut Klaus Zimmerling

Sachsen · Dresden & Pillnitz · Dresden

GlobalRegional

VDPSpitzenweingutBio

Riesling, Grauburgunder, Weißburgunder

Winzer Lutz Müller

Sachsen · Dresden & Pillnitz · Dresden

Regional

Riesling, Spätburgunder, Sauvignon Blanc

Weinselig

Sachsen · Dresden & Pillnitz · Dresden

Winzer Ronny Beier

Sachsen · Dresden & Pillnitz · Dresden

Pesterwitzer Besenwirtschaft

Sachsen · Dresden & Pillnitz · Freital