Wednesday, March 5, 2025

Sachsen: The Top Winemakers - Vinum Weinguide Deutschland 2025


The Vinum Weinguide Deutschland 2025 was released recently, presenting Vinum's choice of Germany’s best 1,000 wine producers and reviewing more than 10,500 wines on 1,080 pages. 
 
5 out of 5 stars („world class“) was awarded to 26 estates. In addition, there are 36 estates with 4.5 stars, and 77 estates with 4 stars.
 

Top Winemaker in Sachsen and ombiasy WineTours

In the Sachsen, there are 2 producers with 3.5 stars, 3 producers with 3 stars and 1 producer with 2 stars in the Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany 2025.

Annette Schiller, ombiasy WineTours, and I have met 5 of these 6 producers at various occasions over the past years, often at their estate during a Germany wine tour by ombiasy WineTours, which is owned and run by Annette Schiller and based in Washington DC, USA.

Sachsen

(London Wine Competition)

Saxony, the third-smallest German wine region, is primarily located along the banks of the Elbe River. It is also one of only two German wine regions located within the boundaries of former East Germany. Officially located within the German federal state of Saxony, this wine region is sometimes referred to as “the Elbe Valley.”

Geographically, Saxony is located in southeastern Germany, near the border with the Czech Republic. It has a relatively temperate climate (especially for Germany), thanks primarily to the moderating influence of the Elbe. In terms of soil quality for wine grapes, Saxony is most similar to Austria’s Wachau region. The microclimate, however, is decidedly northern, and that has largely dictated which grape varietals to plant along the hillsides of the Elbe Valley.

While Riesling is a popular white grape varietal in Saxony, it is not the most popular. That honor goes to Müller-Thurgau, which accounts for 18.4% of all wine production, as compared to 14.5% for Riesling. Other popular grape varietals include Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc), at 11.9%, and Spatburgunder (Pinot Noir), at 8.1%. Nearly all wines (90%) from this region are characterized and labeled as dry wines.

The winemaking tradition in Saxony dates back to 1161, when winemakers gathered in the city of Meissen. For nearly 1,000 years, then, the wine has been part of the unique cultural and socio-economic life of Saxony. Wines from this region might not be well known internationally, but they have a ready domestic market for German wine drinkers who are fans of Riesling and Müller-Thurgau wines.

Visiting Sachsen Producers
 
Martin Schwarz - 3.5/5 Stars 
 
 
Pictures: Martin Schwarz, Weingut Martin Schwarz, and Annette Schiller. See: Dresden is the New Unlikely Place for Fine Barolo Wine: Weingut Martin Schwarz – Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours






Pictures: Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Martin Schwarz (VDP) in Meissen, Sachsen, with Philipp Henke - Germany "From Berlin to Frankfurt" 2023 (Saale Unstrut, Sachsen, Franken, Württemberg) by ombiasy WineTours

Klaus Zimmerling - 3.5/5 Stars

 
Picture: Malgorzata Chodakoska (Weingut Klaus Zimmerling) at the Foot of the Rysselkuppe Vineyard. See: Visit of Weingut Klaus Zimmerling: The Wines of Klaus Zimmerling and the Art of his Wife Malgorzata Chodakoska - Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015) 

Aust - 3/5 Stars

Picture: Karl Friedrich Aust, Weingut Karl Friedrich Aust, Sachsen, Germany. See: Weingut Karl Friedrich Aust in Radebeul, Sachsen: Tour and Lunch with Tasting – Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
 
Schloss Wackerbarth - 3/5 Stars

Picture: Visit and Tasting at the Sächsisches Staatsweingut Schloss Wackerbarth in Radebeul, Sachsen - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken






Pictures: Tour and Tasting at Sächsisches Staatsweingut Schloss Wackerbarth in Radebeul, Sachsen - Germany "From Berlin to Frankfurt" 2023 (Saale Unstrut, Sachsen, Franken, Württemberg) by ombiasy WineTours

Schuh - 2/5 Stars

 
Picture: Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Weingut Schuh in Coswig, Sachsen, with Katharina Pollmer-Schuh and Matthias Schuh - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken 

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Massive Tasting of Bordeaux 1982 - the Vintage that made Robert Parker a Star, USA/ France

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2025 Rieslingfeier Gala Dinner in New York City, Sky Loft, 32nd Floor of 50 Hudson Yard, with 15 #worldclass Winemakers from Germany + Austria and Estimated 300 Wines, many 20, 30, 40 Years old, many Larger Format and almost all Ultra-premium
 
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