Our postponed trip to Dresden is back on, tentatively for mid to late October--my traveling partner's surgery went well and she goes back to the doctor in early September for an all-clear.

We've slightly modified our plans--instead of 5 or 6 nights in Dresden, we'll do 2 nights in Leipzig and then 4 nights in Dresden. I've made reservations at the Westin in Leipzig and the Radisson Gewandhaus for Dresden.

Trying the best of Saxon wine is a (not THE but definitely up there) priority for me on this trip--any suggestion for wine bars in either city where I can try the better Saxon wines? I'd also like to bring several bottles back with us to Basel (going by train, not plane, so we can bring back as much as we can carry), can anyone suggest a good wine store in either city that specializes in the local wines? Also, any particularly good wineries near Dresden that I could reach by public transport that are open in mid to late October?

Related question: if I find wines I really like, would the wine shops be able to ship a few cases to Basel?

zum Wohl!

Shipping to Basel: There are several internet dealers who ship Saxon wines to Switzerland, e.g. this Dresden-based dealer:

http://www.edelrausch.de/Wein/Herkun...d/Sachsen.html

When they ship into Switzerland, they discount the German VAT but add the Swiss VAT and wine tax.

You can visit their shops in Dresden and Leipzig:

http://www.edelrausch.de/Kontakt.html

I have already ordered from Edelrausch and can confirm that they are reliable.

Another option (with an even better selection of Saxon wines) is this dealer:

http://www.belvini.de

Search for Saale-Unstrut and Sachsen.

I am not sure if they ship to Switzerland.

You can visit their shop in Dresden:

BELVINI.DE wein+design
Inhaber Christoph Gönner
Martin-Luther-Str. 13
D-01099 Dresden

Many thanks!

Are there tastings at either of these stores?

Hi Passerine,

On my first visit to his lovely city, Ingo walked me down the Elbe and noted all the vineyards and wine estates that are being restored. Ingo loves wine, and his knowledge of the local offerings will be extensive.

Just wait a bit, and he'll see this and really give you a lot of great ideas.

You'll really have a great time!

s

passerine,

Leipzig is merely known for beer. I would suggest Zill´s Tunnel as such a typical place. And no doubt, that you will find some good Saxonian Wine in Auerbach´s Keller (Fodor´s choice, btw.)

When in Dresden, do not miss to visit Meissen, its cathedral and the castle. There you are also closer to your favorite drink.

maybe, www.weinbauverband-sachsen.de is helpful for your purpose and for further research.

There is RADEBEUL close to Dresden. I particularly liked Schloss Wackerbarth.
http://www.schloss-wackerbarth.de/

Regrettably that site is not in English....

But I would expect if you call them they can inform on opening hours etc. Their website offers an online shopping link as well.

Just explore the site.

You will love the Gewandhaus hotel. It's just one street "behind" the Frauenkirche. Cosy rooms and great breakfast and hospitality. Most of the rooms have bathtubs (kind of whirlpools). If your friend is somehow physically limited then I would suggest you particularly request a room with shower as well.

Maybe you also should request in advance tickets for the "Gläserne Fabrik) Volkswagen's Glass Plant a bit outside the city. There you have a tour on the house as well as the opportunity to "drive" a Phaeton (simulator). They have also a wonderful restaurant there - chef etc is from the Kempinski Taschenberg Palais. We had dinner there which was really good - nouvelle cuisine, fresh produce and great wines.

Enjoy!

SV

I'll try these suggestions, thanks. Funny about the Phaeton simulator, as we are planning to test drive a Passat CC (aka Phaeton lite) for a potential purchase in Switzerland.

Saxon wine, wow, Passerine - love this thread ;-) And so right in timing - next weekend all the wineries in Saxony are open. I'll definitely visit some of them ... <hick> LOL

There's an excellent small wine shop right next to the Frauenkirche (in the small alley behind the church to the right side of Cosel Palais) which has most Saxon wines - and you can taste there.

I second the recommendation of Schloss Wackerbarth which is accessible by tram #4 (Radebeul-West). Another first rate winery is Schloss Proschwitz, available in many shops. Btw, a good place to buy Saxon wine is the shop on the basement level of the Markthalle Dresden-Neustadt just off the Hauptstrasse boulevard. Ask and you can taste one or two.

Zimmerling produces organic wine - excellent. He's in Pillnitz and I am quite sure they offer tastings.
http://www.weingut-zimmerling.de/

Other names with good reputation are Weinhaus Schuh, Frank Ulrich, Weingut Matyas (had an excellent Bacchus lately).

Right in the city, in the park of Schloss Albrechtsberg, you find the vineyard and small winery of Lutz Müller (swandav referred to him) - www.winzer-mueller.de
click on "Weinprobe" and you'll see what he offers. Tastings require a minimum of 10 persons but you can email him and ask if he has one scheduled for the time you're in Dresden.

Wine bars ... hm, Wettiner Keller, belongs to the Hilton. But let me think about that. I am sure there are better places somewhere in the city.

Radisson Gewandhaus is an excellent choice!

Ingo

I had Sunday lunch at Paulaner's im Taschenberg Palais hotel a few years ago. Very reasonably priced. Good Rostbratw&uuml;rstchen and Hefeweissbier for &euro;10. There is a store in the corridor promoting the local Saxon wines. The lady working that day gave me a nice intro. I don't recall being offered a tasting. The cafe at the Hilton next to the Frauenkirke is a pleasant repose. The Dresden tram system is outstanding.

The small wine shop next to the Frauenkirche is this one:
www.saechsische-vinothek.de
Please note they also run the "Wettiner Weinlädchen" at the foot of Brühl's Terrace (the stairs access Münzgasse alley/behind the Hilton).

A wine bar for (not only) the evening is this one:
www.weinklang.com
Location is in a nice 19th century residential area south of Blue Wonder Bridge. I believe to recall bus #61 has stops nearby.

Thank you, Ingo (and everyone else). I look forward to trying some excellent wines, bringing several bottles home and ordering a few cases to be shipped!

Don't forget: You can't take any bottles via hand luggage! Think twice before you check them in!
We did it ones and never again: 3 out of 6 were broken.

Happy travels and CHEERRS!

SV

Spassvogel, that's not a problem on this trip. As I noted in my opening post, we're traveling by train (first-class ICE), not plane. But thanks for the advisory.

oops - sorry did either not notice or forget.
Train - I would carry as much as possible

SV

Passerine, in Leipzig you may enjoy the celebrated winebar/restaurant WEINSTOCK on the northwest corner of Marktplatz facing the famous Rathaus on the east side of the market square. They serve something over 150 wines but they are also known for their elevated german cuisine from a well known local starchef. From the outside, the place looked somewhat low key and hidden due to all the tunnel construction below the Markt square but I had my best meal in Leipzig when we took advantage of their business lunch offer. The restaurant was full during lunch with mostly suits and executive women doing formal business or power dating. In the afternoon I noticed more non business crowd sitting down just to drink wine with their friends in the outdoor seating. The restaurant interior was actually rather impressive & airy with classic high gothic curved ceilings.

Hi Dax, we'll check out Weinstock. Recent reviews are mixed, so we may skip it as a restaurant, but will definitely stop in for some wine. Thank you!

I'm surprised to hear about the mixed reviews, but you're right I just read a couple recent complaints about snooty service particularly from the person bringing a gutschein, I suppose they've become rather cocky. It's been more than a couple of years, but when I was there their food & formal service were far better than the average Leipzig restaurants I went to. Leipzig is so alive with college students so there are tons more bars and pubs than winebars. It's fun to check out the lively bars & cafes along the Barfussgaesschen(very touristy) and Gottschedstr (locals) or see a performance in the Moritzbastei.

I hope you'll write a report on your hotel,restaurants & winebars after your trip. FYI the Westin is a bit north and outside of the gentrified old town circle. I had actually planned to stay at the SAS Radisson by the Gewandhaus for a conference this coming September but had to cancel due to a schedule change.

Hi Dax, yes we're mulling over the Radisson option...we have plenty ot time to cancel the Westin and re-book with the Radisson. I'm on the Radisson points system.

Speaking of wine bars, I was in Aarau today and tried a couple of the regional whites at a cafe in the old town (beautiful); very nice.

I promise a full trip report after our week through Leipzig and Dresden!

I would be very interested in your review, Passerine! I am considering the Westin for my next (business) stay in Leipzig. Last time I stayed in the Seaside right opposite the central railway station which was pretty good. Walked into the Radisson's lobby and thought it looked nice. However, the location is VERY noisy and since I am a light sleeper it is no option for me. Also, no sauna/pool or such things. The lady at the reception told me the windows to the major road in front of the hotel are sound-proof but those to the back are not. Result is that both types of rooms are equally noisy. Yuck.

Hi DAX, sorry to hear you had to cancel your trip to Leipzig.

I.

Passerine, what's the name of the beautiful wine bar in Aarau? From time to time we visit a family who lives very close to old town (we'd park our car in the old town center and walk to their house). Care to share the name of the wonderful regional whites you had? I am considering of going to Munich and Switzerland this early October but it's still up in the air.

Ingo, I'm really bummed about it but I will eventually make my way back to Saxony. Gotta have that Grauburgunder from Proschwitz! I'm heading to Napa to meet up with J and the Grace Family winery owners this weekend.