Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt’s wine festivals: the Freyburger Winzerfest on the second weekend of September, in the Saale-Unstrut wine region, and the state’s specialities.
At a glance
- Home of the Freyburger Winzerfest, central Germany’s largest regional wine festival, says the tourist office
- The Saale-Unstrut, one of Germany’s northernmost wine regions
- Freyburg, home of the Rotkäppchen sparkling wine cellars
- Magdeburg is the state capital, Halle its largest city
- 1food festival
Food festivals in Saxony-Anhalt
Falk2, CC BY-SA
Cities and towns in Saxony-Anhalt
FrankBothe, CC BY-SAMap of Saxony-Anhalt
What to taste in Saxony-Anhalt
Saale-Unstrut wine
Dry whites above all, from terraced vineyards along the Saale and Unstrut rivers.
Rotkäppchen Sekt
The sparkling wine of Freyburg, whose cellars are open to visitors as the Rotkäppchen Erlebniswelt.
Baumkuchen
The layered “tree cake” of Salzwedel, in the north of the state.
Harzer Käse
A small, tangy sour-milk cheese from the Harz mountains.
Saxony-Anhalt’s wine festival is the Freyburger Winzerfest, which the Freyburg tourist office calls the largest regional wine festival of central Germany. The state lies in the east of Germany, between the Harz mountains and the Elbe.
The Saale-Unstrut
The state’s wine comes from the south, along the valleys of the Saale and the Unstrut.
- Freyburg: the wine town on the Unstrut, home of the Winzerfest and of Rotkäppchen Sekt.
- Naumburg: the cathedral town on the Saale, the other base of the region.
- Naumburg Cathedral: a UNESCO World Heritage Site since June 2018, for its architecture, stained glass and sculpture, says the cathedral’s foundation.
Saale-Unstrut is one of Germany’s northernmost wine regions, with vineyards on terraces above the rivers.
The Weinbauverband Saale-Unstrut, the regional winegrowers’ association, puts the area under vine at about 856 hectares. Its steep terraces are held up by centuries-old dry-stone walls and dotted with small vineyard cottages, on soils of shell limestone, red sandstone and loess.
- Grapes: Müller-Thurgau, Weißburgunder (Pinot Blanc), Silvaner and Riesling are the varieties traditionally grown, says the association.
- Wine routes: the Weinstraße Saale-Unstrut, the Weinroute an der Weißen Elster and the Weinstraße Mansfelder Seen lead to the wineries.
Saxony-Anhalt: wine, cake and cheese by area
| Area | What to taste |
|---|---|
| Saale-Unstrut | Dry white wines and Sekt |
| Altmark (Salzwedel) | Baumkuchen |
| Harz | Harzer Käse |
Freyburg’s wine year
- 1 May: the Weinfrühling opens the season along a six-kilometre route, with more than 70 winemakers, caterers and producers.
- First weekend of August: open cellars and vineyards.
- Second weekend of September: the Winzerfest.
Sekt in Freyburg, chocolate in Halle
Two of the state’s food names date from the 19th century, according to the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA).
| Name | Town | Since | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rotkäppchen | Freyburg | 1856 | A wine trading house of the Kloss brothers and Carl Foerster, making sparkling wine from 1858 |
| Halloren | Halle | 1804 | A chocolate factory, “Germany’s oldest” for the DPMA |
- Rotkäppchen Erlebniswelt: an interactive exhibition of 1,400 square metres on two cellar levels in Freyburg. Allow 90 to 180 minutes, with tickets from 13 euros in 2026.
- Halloren-Kugeln: chocolate balls created in 1952, modelled on the large round silver buttons of the festive dress worn by Halle’s salt makers, the Halloren.
Before you go
- When: the Freyburger Winzerfest is held on the second weekend of September. The 2027 dates are not yet published.
- Car: the Freyburg tourist office advises leaving the car and the bike at home for the wine festivals.
- Airport: Leipzig/Halle Airport is the nearest large airport.
- Alcohol: in Germany, wine can be bought from age 16.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Freyburger Winzerfest?
Always on the second weekend of September, from Friday to Monday, says the Freyburg tourist office. The 2027 dates are not yet published.
Where is the Saale-Unstrut wine region?
In the south of Saxony-Anhalt, around Freyburg and Naumburg, along the Saale and Unstrut rivers.
What is the capital of Saxony-Anhalt?
Magdeburg.