Location and Classification
Bauernberge is a registered single vineyard in the Meissen wine-growing region and belongs to the Großlage Elbhänge. The designated village locations are in Merbitz and Cossebaude on the left bank of the Elbe in the Dresden area in Saxony.
Vineyard Area and Grape Varieties
The Cossebaude-Merbitz winegrowing association cultivates 2.2 hectares of vineyard area in Merbitz and 1.5 hectares in Cossebaude. The grapes planted are Müller-Thurgau, Goldriesling, Weißburgunder, Ruländer, Traminer, Riesling, Kerner and Spätburgunder. In the Merbitz Bauernberge, Weißburgunder took up the largest planted area in 2020.
Relief and Soils
The Cossebaude portion lies mostly on south-facing steep slopes with individual terraces. Heavy clay soils originate there from weathered Cretaceous sandstone with pronounced clay layers; in the west, weathering material from granite-syenite parent rock is added. The Merbitz portion is connected with Pläner sandstone, a Cretaceous sedimentary rock. Wines with pronounced acidity are documented for the Cossebaude portion.
Historical Vineyards
A document from the Meissen cathedral chapter from 1311 records productive vineyards in Cossebaude. At the beginning of the 17th century, under an arrangement linked to the Saxon Elector, terraced vineyards with dry stone walls and irrigation were established there. A dated boundary stone from 1794 shows that viticulture in Merbitz has been at least since the 18th century. Historical terraces, dry stone walls and irrigation systems are still documented in the Cossebaude vineyards.
