VDP.ESTATE
KLAUS ZIMMERLING

“DURING THE DDR ERA, THERE WERE NO EXCITING WINES; I WANTED TO DISCOVER WHETHER THERE WAS ANOTHER WAY.”

KLAUS ZIMMERLING SPEAKS ABOUT HIS WINES AND HIS WINE ESTATE IN DRESDEN

Klaus Zimmerling

Bergweg 27
01326 Dresden

Phone+49 (0)351/41394394
eMailinfo@weingut-zimmerling.de
Office Hours
In der Vinothek zu regulären Öffnungszeiten (siehe Website) sowie nach individueller Vereinbarung.
Owner

Klaus Zimmerling

Member Since

2010

Wine Area

4,50 acres

Grape Variety

35% Riesling, 20% Weißburgunder, 16% Grauburgunder sowie Kerner, Gewürztraminer & Traminer

Geology

verwitterter Granit, Gneis

Growing Areas

Sachsen

Eco Certifications
  • EU-Bio-Zertifizierung

VDP: What is so special about your winery?

Klaus Zimmerling: The symbiosis of art – sculptures by my wife Malgorzata Chodakowska – and handcrafted wine. In the cellar, we use Italian basket presses with very low pressure and we press only once. We stand for uncompromising quality and uniqueness, which is why we have worked organically right from the start. Vine pruning, canopy management, harvesting and much more is all done by hand. The VDP.GROSSE LAGE® KÖNIGLICHER WEINBERG is a monopole vineyard and we are one of the smallest VDP members, yet despite tiny quantities, we are internationally known.

VDP: What is your winery philosophy?

Klaus Zimmerling: Bringing the taste of the grape into the bottle with minimal intervention. We keep our yields extremely low at 25-35 hectolitres per hectare for all wines, even in the base range. We rely on 100 percent manual harvesting throughout all vineyards and a maceration period according to tradition. We practice whole bunch press and do not use wood, only stainless steel tanks.


VDP: For which wine style do you aspire?

Klaus Zimmerling: I love the varietal diversity in the white wine sector, but Riesling is at the top. Our wine style is puristic. Thanks to the continental climate, we achieve pronounced vintage character and due to high physiological ripeness, often wines with discreet residual sweetness.

“WE WANT TO BRING THE TASTE OF THE GRAPE INTO THE BOTTLE WITH MIMIMAL INTERVENTION.”

VDP: Which of your wines would you recommend to someone who does not yet know your winery – as an introduction, so to speak?

Klaus Zimmerling: Our Riesling “R” 2017 and Kerner “R”.


VDP: Of which wine are you particularly proud?

Klaus Zimmerling: Among others, the Grauburgunder “A” 2004 – a superb Pinot Gris that is unfortunately no longer available.


VDP: Why did you become a vintner?

Klaus Zimmerling: During the GDR era, there were no exciting wines; I wanted to discover whether there was another way. I make wines out of conviction, passion, fun and joy.

VDP: Do you have role models?

Klaus Zimmerling: Hans-Günter Schwarz.


VDP: What are your next goals?

Klaus Zimmerling: Hmm. If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans. ;-) First of all, a new winery building.

 

VDP: How do you combine tradition and innovation?

Klaus Zimmerling: Because I am the first generation at my winery, there are no rigid traditions. Instead we have a mixture of innovation, such as a change in pruning – and old traditions, such as the use of basket presses and macerations periods.


VDP: Why should people visit your winery?

Klaus Zimmerling: Because of attractions such as Schloss Pillnitz or Saxon Switzerland – everything is in the immediate vicinity. And because of my wife’s sculptures!