EASTERNMOST VINEYARD
Germany
Easternmost vineyard Germany
With their voluntary work, all winegrowers contribute to the preservation of the easternmost vineyard in Germany andthus to the preservation of a unique cultural asset of the region. This is the only way to ensure that the vineyard could be restored even after the harsh winter of 1996/97 and a pest infestation.
The beginnings
The vineyard is situated about 230 m above sea level. Until the middle of the 19th century it was cultivated on the southern slope of the monastery of St. Marienthal. Since Cistercian monasteries are almost always located along river courses, everything was available to provide for themselves. Around 1870/90 there was a phylloxera infestation in the region, which also affected the sister monastery of St. Marienstern in the district of Kamenz. As a result, the vineyard in Ostritz was abandoned and burned down. Since then the area has been used as pasture for livestock and for fruit growing.
The new beginning
In 1986, eight families came together to lease the 2,000 m² vineyard and rebuild the terraces. In cooperation with the Meissen winegrowers’ cooperative, about 800 plants of the “Müller-Thurgau” variety and about 200 plants of the “Goldriesling” variety were cultivated. Until 1988/89 the grapes were brought to Meissen to be pressed. From 1990 the wine could be pressed at the vineyard in Ostritz itself. In 1993 more winemaker friends joined and the vineyard could be extended to 3.788 m². Unfortunately, the harsh winter of 1996/97 and pest infestation in the following summer months damaged the vines so badly that the harvest failed to materialise.
The vineyard today