August the Strong was the Elector of Saxony and King of Poland until 1733, and is said to have drank seven bottles of wine a day. Experts are now speculating that this wine had a lower alcohol content than today’s wines. But at least we can draw the conclusion that people long ago also enjoyed drinking wine, just like the wine-lovers from the Sächsisches Staatsweingut Schloss Wackerbarth today. Only the work in the vineyards was more difficult back then – because there were no specialty vineyard tractors from the Fendt brand at that time.

Autumn is the most important time for wine-growers. This is when the grape harvest shows if the time and effort put inover the entire year has paid off. “That was certainly the case in 2011,” says Alexander Thau, manager for the wine-growing area in Radebeul East, and looks back at the last harvest with satisfaction: a golden autumn with sunshine from September to November. The grapes ripened fully and stored many good aromas. Riesling, Müller Thurgau, Traminer, Kerner, Gold Riesling, Pinot gris, Pinot Blanc, Scheurebe or Bacchus are the basis for the coveted dry white wines from the Sächsischen Staatsweingut GmbH at Schloss Wackerbarth in Radebeul. They thrive particularly well under the local climate conditions. Several select red wines from the grape varieties Pinot noir, Dornfelder, Blaufränkischer and Pinot Noir Précoce, barely make up 20 percent of the total production in this typical white wine region.

In the “normal” vineyards, such as the 54 hectares around Diesbar-Seußlitz, Thau’s employees use Fendt tractors, including two narrow vineyard tractors 200 V with Vario transmission, to do almost all of the work that is required in the vineyard. After the first cut, the wood on the vine is “pulled out”. Then the spring work is similar to farming work: cultivation with a paraplough, application of pesticides and fertiliser, then later leaf removal or grapeharvesting. “And that is to remain that way,” sums up the manager, referring to the use of Fendt tractors.

Normally, the vines in Wackerbarth become 30 to 35 years old. “But we also have many specialities here; we have the oldest wall vine in Germany, which is at least 300 years old,” reports Alexander Thau. The “Früher Leipziger” vine ripens on the steep slope “Goldener Wagen” and still carries fruit. It is a visitor magnet. Back in the beautiful ambient of Schloss Wackerbarth, it quickly becomes clear that the Staatsweingut is much more than just a wine and sparkling wine factory. “It is also the first adventure vineyard in Europe,” explains Ulrike Schröter, Press Officer for the company, a bit proudly. Under the slogan: “Welcome to a feast for the senses”, wine lovers and connoisseurs learn about the world of wine. “This is done on vineyard hikes as well as wine, sparkling wine or adventure tours, where the production of the fine wine is explained, and numerous other interesting events,” she describes.

Of the 13 German wine-growing regions, the one in Saxony is the smallest. Schloss Wackerbarth, with nearly 100 ha of vineyards, makes up almost one fourth of it. Despite this, the Saxon wine-growers work according to the motto: “Quality instead of quantity”. Not just because there is no space to expand the vineyards. The highest quality, which they also demand from their Fendt tractors, is the self-proclaimed objective of the wine-grower north of the 51st parallel north. Some 500,000 bottles of wine and sparkling wine are filled every year at the Staatsweingut. “The Saxons Cellar Master Jürgen Aumüller and Ulrike Schröter, Press Officer, in front of Schloss Wackerbarth. On the steep slopes, the grapes are harvested per hand – in all kinds of weather. drink almost all of it alone,” laughs Ulrike Schröter and adds: “In addition to selected specialist shops in Saxony and our own shop on the estate, connoisseurs can also order exquisite products from Wackerbarth through our online shop.”