Meißen & Diesbar-Seußlitz

Winegrowing around Meissen lies in the Elbe valley north-west of Dresden and extends downstream to Diesbar-Seußlitz; the Saxon Wine Route runs through it. The Albrechtsburg rises above the town, and its porcelain manufactory made the name of Meissen known worldwide. Well-known sites include the Meißner Kapitelberg, the Rosengründchen and Schloss Proschwitz; in Diesbar-Seußlitz a baroque palace and winegrowers' farmsteads define the village.

The Elbe valley is one of the northernmost and drier wine regions in Germany. The climate is continental, with cold winters and a risk of late frost; the river and the steep, south-facing slopes create warm microclimates. Granite prevails around Meissen, with sandstone and Pläner added in the Elbe valley, plus loess and loam cover. Many steep sites are laid out as terraces with dry-stone walls.

Müller-Thurgau, Riesling, Weißburgunder and Grauburgunder are the main varieties, along with the Saxon speciality Goldriesling and some Spätburgunder. The whites are mostly dry, fresh and herbal with marked acidity. Schloss Proschwitz (Prinz zur Lippe) is among the best-known estates, alongside Martin Schwarz, Vincenz Richter, Rothes Gut and Jan Ulrich.