Grape harvest underway in Saxony

According to the Ministry of Tourism, wine tourism has become increasingly important in Saxony in recent years. Around 3.1 million overnight and day visits are counted in this area every year, according to the ministry. During their stays in the Saxon wine region, visitors spend a total of almost 300 million euros.

There is still a lot of potential in dovetailing tourism and culinary delights, according to Culture Minister Barbara Klepsch (CDU), who herself lent a hand with the grape harvest at the Schloss Wackerbarth state winery. The industry is hoping for more wine tourists: according to the figures, spending by overnight guests in this area is eleven percent higher than the average for travelers - for day visitors, the figure is as high as 55 percent. For example, visitors are popular with winegrowers along the Saxon Wine Route.

Wine harvest in full swing

The grape harvest is currently in full swing at the wineries along the Elbe. "60 percent of our vineyards have been harvested," said Schloss Wackerbarth spokesman Martin Junge. Over the next few days, varieties such as Traminer, Riesling and the red wine variety Blaufränkisch will be harvested. Junge assumes that the grape harvest will be completed by mid-October. So far, he is satisfied with the quality and quantity of the grapes.

Of the 13 German wine regions, the wine-growing region of Saxony is one of the smallest. The wine region stretches along the Elbe from Pirna via Dresden, Radebeul and Meißen to Diesbar-Seußlitz northwest of Meißen. Wine is grown on around 500 hectares in Saxony - mainly white wine. Just under 20 percent of the area is reserved for red wines. The main grape varieties are Müller-Thurgau, Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Traminer, Pinot Noir and Dornfelder.