Location and Terroir
Schloß Proschwitz is a vineyard site classified as VDP.GROSSE LAGE in the Saxon wine-growing region, above the distinctive Elbe hillside near Meißen-Proschwitz. The sub-areas Proschwitz, Rottewitz and Zadel comprise classified areas of 2.51, 3.37 and 3.00 hectares respectively. The south to south-south-west facing slopes and the continental climate with many hours of sunshine favour warming of the vineyard soils.
Soils and Terrain
The vineyards lie, depending on the sub-area, at around 107 to 176 metres above sea level. The slopes have roughly 10 percent in Proschwitz, up to 45 percent in Rottewitz and about 30 percent in Zadel. The soils consist mainly of loess or loess loam over red granite and syenite; the loess layer can be up to six metres thick. A soil profile also indicates a colluvisol that formed from reworked gravel-bearing colluvial sand over an eroded, loess-derived pararendzina.
Varieties and Wine Making
In the Proschwitz sub-area, White Pinot (Weißer Burgunder), Grauer Burgunder and Spätburgunder are planted; in Rottewitz, Spätburgunder, Weißer Burgunder and Frühburgunder. Zadel is planted with Riesling. The winery describes the wines as fruity-elegant and mineral, with a Burgundy-style focus on grape varieties. White and red wines are produced, including VDP.GROSSES GEWÄCHS from Riesling, Weißburgunder, Grauburgunder and Spätburgunder.
Cultivation and History
From mid-2024 onwards, the vineyard areas have been certified for organic farming. Work in the vineyard includes hand-harvesting, manual secondary sorting and, provided the quality of the site allows it, modern harvesting technology; in addition, yields are limited. In the cellar, the winery relies on gentle sedimentation, precise cool fermentation, natural filtering materials and maturation in traditional barriques of 1,200 litres. Red wines are traditionally fermented on the skins and released after at least 30 months of maturation. Viticulture on the Proschwitz slopes has been documented for more than 850 years. After the expropriation and expulsion of the family in 1945, Georg Prinz zur Lippe bought back vineyard land in 1990 and rebuilt the winery; since 1996, Schloß Proschwitz has been a member of the VDP.
