The best wines from Saale-Unstrut in Germany

Saale-Unstrut is the northernmost wine region of Germany. It is located in the East of Germany. The wines from Saale-Unstrut are not very well known outside the region. This is not due to the quality, which has increased considerably since the fall of the wall. Three quarters of the wines are white and fresh in character, with the Müller-thurgau as the leader.

Saale-Unstrut, Germany’s northernmost wine region, is centred around the Saale and Unstrut rivers. The vineyards in this area were located behind the Berlin Wall. Until the fall of the Wall, there was no investment in viticulture and vinification, which put the quality of the wine at a disadvantage. But fortunately, Saale-Unstrut has made a steady recovery in recent years and now provides refined wines.

The only challenge remains the climate. The soil is impeccable; sandstone and chalky soils that retain the heat. The dry continental climate is ‘softened’ here and there by mountains and water. The Harz Mountains and the Thuringian Forest offer the vineyards on the steep slopes along the rivers some shelter. But it is the vines in the valleys that are best protected against the merciless frost in spring and winter. They also benefit from more constant and higher temperatures.

There is no gradual transition from summer to winter. Even before autumn can provide a longer ripening season, King Winter enters. No extra ripeness for the grapes; no wines with the qualification ‘spätlese’ or ‘auslese’.

Don’t worry, just ripe grapes are good enough for wines with finesse and fresh acidity. Although more than 30 grape varieties can be found in Saale-Unstrut, early-ripening grape varieties such as Müller-thurgau, Silvaner, Riesling and Weissburgunder are popular in this dry continental climate. Müller-thurgau, the most planted variety, accounts for more than 19% of the total plantings. It produces low yields which allows the wines to retain their concentration.

Of the 735 hectares of vineyards in Saale-Unstrut, only a quarter are planted with red grape varieties such as Dornfelder, Portugieser and Spätburgunder. You are one of the lucky ones if you come across these wines!