Click here for the wine experiences
Wine has been grown in Saale-Unstrut for over 1000 years. Initially, winegrowing was closely linked to the monasteries. While the Benedictines cultivated the landscape in Memleben, the Cistercians influenced the landscape around the Pforta monastery near Naumburg. In the Saale-Unstrut quality wine-growing region, winegrowers cultivate the wine-growing tradition and are increasingly passing on their farms and their wine-growing experience to the next generation. Established events along the Saale-Unstrut Wine Route are a wonderful way for visitors to experience the region.
Freyburger Weinfrühling opens the wine festival season
The wine and sparkling wine town of Freyburg always hosts the Wine Spring on 1 May. Along the picturesque vineyard silhouette on the Ehraubergen, below the Schweigenberge all the way to Weischütz, you will be warmly welcomed by the wine sovereigns, around 65 regional winegrowers, restaurateurs, associations and traders.
On the approximately six-kilometre-long route, you can enjoy wine, listen to street musicians or take a look at one or the other exhibition. This year, too, there will be a limited edition of festive glasses, this time with a vineyard house from the Schweigenberge, that of the Dr. Gabert winery.
Note for animal lovers
Your four-legged friend cannot accompany you on this day, there is a general ban on dogs on the route.
Travel tip
Arrival by train to the platform of the Jahn, wine and sparkling wine town of Freyburg (Unstrut). In addition, shuttle taxis will take you to the Ehrauberge, to Schützenplatz, to Eckstädter Platz, to the Pawis Winery in Zscheiplitz and, on request, to Weischütz (on-demand stops) between 11:30 am and 6:30 pm. The fare is to be paid directly in the taxi.
If you are travelling by car, you can use the designated parking spaces in Bahnhofstraße and at the Netto-Markt, the Schützenplatz and at the Mühle Zeddenbach.
Little Red Riding Hood opens new world of experience
Since 1856, Rotkäppchen sparkling wine has been produced in the middle of Saale-Unstrut, more precisely at the site in Freyburg. From 13 May, the new Rotkäppchen Erlebniswelt will open in Freyburg an der Unstrut. "Experience" is not just a figure of speech here, because many interactive elements directly involve the visitors. Just looking, listening and reading information boards - that was yesterday.
The new interactive exhibition in the historic cellars covers 1,400 square metres on two floors. Participation is an integral part of the exhibition. At over 50 stations, guests discover, experience and learn everything about Little Red Riding Hood. In addition to insights into the history of the sparkling wine producer, into big and small moments in the company's history, the focus is above all on the production of sparkling wine. Rotkäppchen reveals a piece of its secrets.
Bad Sulza Wine Spring
Wine spring is also celebrated in the small village of Bad Sulza. Make a note of 20 May for this. Look forward to numerous stops in and around Bad Sulza with delicious wine, live music and tasty culinary delights.
The Bad Sulza Wine Spring will be officially opened at 10 am at the Thuringian Wine Gate. The reigning Thuringian Wine Princess Katharina and the Solestädter Gesangsverein e.V. will be there.
Wine Route "Weiße Elster" & U.W.E. (Unstrut Wine Experience)
On 1 May, the 17 km long wine route along the white Elster river at the traditional "Anradeln" discover
The "U.W.E.", better known as the "Unstrut Wine Experience" offers the possibility of a wine discovery tour between Burgscheidungen and Dorndorf on 20 May....
Saale Wine Mile
On the Whitsun weekend (27-28 May 2023), however, the Saale Wine Mile also attracts visitors to Saale-Unstrut. Along the Bad Kösen-Roßbach route, local winegrowers invite visitors to their homes and wineries. In addition to wine, the focus is on music and conviviality. Each vintner provides his or her own programme, which ensures plenty of variety on the walk to the wine village of Roßbach.
Open Wine Cellar and Vineyard Days
From 4-6 August 2023, the Open Wine Cellar and Vineyard Days will once again take place. On this weekend, winegrowers open their wineries and provide exclusive insights into their work, the challenges of winegrowing and tradition. In the mostly family-run businesses, the following generations are increasingly getting into the business. They give viticulture a young face, provide new impulses and set their own accents. During the days of the event, visitors can also get into conversation with them.
Not only the wineries around Naumburg and Freyburg take part. A trip to Höhnstedt to the Mansfeld Lakes Wine Route is also recommended.
Court festival at the Pforta Monastery Winery
Although the first vineyards under the auspices of the Cistercians are mentioned as early as the 12th century, the Landesweingut has existed in its present form since 1993. The best-known vineyard "Saalhäuser", today recognisable by the widely visible lettering "Saale-Unstrut-Wein", was once sold to the Pforta monastery for a pair of felt shoes. The grape varieties Blauer Zweigelt, Riesling, Blauer Spätburgunder and Weißburgunder thrive there.
The courtyard festival on 5 and 6 August offers music and entertainment as well as food from the estate restaurant and, of course, Kloster-Pforta wines. Every hour, guests can go on a journey of discovery through the wooden barrel cellar, which is one of the oldest in Saale-Unstrut. The highlight is a look into the historical wine archive.
Outlook for the autumn
With the onset of autumn, the time of the winegrowers' festivals and Federweisser arrives in Saale-Unstrut. The traditional wine festival in Freyburg takes place from 8-10 September 2023. For those who love not only wine but also hiking, the wine hiking day in the Blütengrund near Naumburg on 3 October is highly recommended.
