Das Weingut Zahn im Saale-Unstrut-Gebiet produziert nicht nur erstklassige Weine – sondern auch spannende und stimmungsvolle Events für Gäste.
In the small community of Kaatschen, one half-timbered house follows the next. On one side, the Saale flows leisurely; on the other, there are small mountains full of vineyards. Even the entrance to the village is a delight: a stone bridge leads across the Saale into the district of Großheringen. Here, in this idyllic setting, lies the Zahn Winery - and behind the old, wooden gate, it becomes even a little more romantic: Here, the restaurant with its cozy terrace awaits guests. Wine grows over the heads of the visitors and forms a natural green roof.
You could say that wine is in the Zahn family's blood. Torsten General runs the estate, together with his wife Elvira Zahn-General and his brother-in-law André Zahn. Elvira's parents once founded the business. Father Hartmut Zahn still likes to keep an eye on things in the vineyard, and his wife Christina is still active today as office manager and the good soul of the winery. Elvira, the 2009/2010 Saale-Unstrut Wine Queen, studied wine business administration at Heilbronn University and returned to Thuringia with many innovative ideas. Today, she and her husband Torsten are responsible for the wine restaurant and the marketing of the wines.
"We believe that today it is no longer appropriate to simply show guests the wine cellar and philosophize about acid and sugar there," explains owner Torsten General. "Our way is to put wine into experiences in which it plays a role, but perhaps not always the main role." That's how the estate has become an adventure winery. Throughout the year, the trio offers events such as an inflatable boat trip on the Saale River by moonlight, a stylish picnic in the middle of the vineyard or a three-day mystery dinner in the vineyards, where guests have to solve puzzles while enjoying the wine. Particularly popular is "Tafeln im Dachsberg," a classy dinner at a long table in the middle of the vines, which takes place annually in late summer.
The location of the winery is perfect for exquisite wines such as Acolon, for Pinot Blanc, Blauer Zweigelt or Muscaris: Kaatschen is located directly on the Thuringian border with Saxony-Anhalt, in the triangle between Weimar, Jena und Naumburg. Wunderbar verbunden werden die Weinregionen durch den Saalreradweg, der dem Fluss von seiner Quelle bis zur Mündung folgt und unterwegs an zahlreichen Weinhängen vorbeiführt. An den Südhängen der Hügel können die Trauben richtig reifen, erzählt André. Als Kellermeister ist er zuständig für die Lagerung der Weine. Ob Edelstahl, großes Holzfass oder Barrique, für jeden Wein sucht und findet er die richtige Ausbaumethode. „Die etwa 1.600 Sonnenstunden im Jahr, wenig Niederschläge, dazu der reichhaltige Boden und das Klima hier an Saale und Unstrut, das sind die wichtigsten Voraussetzungen für unsere charaktervollen Weine.“
In the meantime, life has come to the restaurant: smartly dressed waiters ensure that the glasses are always full and serve delicacies such as beef carpaccio, Riesling soup or filet of Thuringian catfish.
Torsten and Elvira not only pay attention to first-class quality when it comes to wine, but also to the products in the restaurant. "We opted for regional cuisine," Torsten tells us, "especially when it comes to meat and fish, we know each producer personally." What began as a small Straußenwirtschaft is now an established and lovingly decorated restaurant in the backyard of the winery. The Saale flows right past the terrace, a few canoeists greet you now and then, and a goose preens itself extensively on the other bank. An enchanting backdrop for a glass of wine or two and a freshly grilled trout.
And this is how you get to the Zahn Winery by bus and train: Plan arrival.
Cover photo: At the Zahn Winery you can enjoy your wine with a view of the Saale © Christoph Keller
