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Meißen, Foto: DWI/Hartmann
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The smallest German winegrowing area is located between Pirna and Diesbar-Seusslitz. It looks back on a long tradition. In 1161, the Saxonian kings cultivated vines on the vineyards of Pillnitz and Wachwitz.
After the German unification, the winegrowing area was expanded from 200 ha to 450 ha with EU welfare payments. Besides Mueller-Thurgau, Riesling and White Burgunder are grown. The conditions for growing vine are not as ideal as in other winegrowing areas. Yields can vary from year to year. Most vintagers have another job to earn a living.
Many vintagers deliver the vines to a vintager cooperative. It processes vines from roughly half of the winegrowing area. After the reunification, some vintagers boomed, e.g. the vintager Vincenz Richter.
