"Life is too short to drink bad wine," Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said. Andreas Clauß from Thüringer Weingut Bad Sulza shares this opinion. He and his team have been based in Sonnendorf, a district of Bad Sulza, since 1998 and send their award-winning top-quality products all over the country. There is evidence that wine was already being grown around Bad Sulza 800 years ago. In 1992, the first winery in Thuringia was founded with the name "Thüringer Weingut Bad Sulza". With almost 50 hectares of vineyards, it is the largest private winery in the Saale-Unstrut wine-growing region. The vineyards are located in the Thuringia wine-growing area with the single vineyard sites "Bad Sulzaer Sonnenberg" and "Auerstedter Tamsel". Further vineyards are cultivated below the Dornburg castles, in the historic terraced vineyard with the characteristic single vineyard site "Dornburger Schlossberg" high above the Saale. Another site was established in Kunitz near Jena in 2010, with the single vineyard "Jenaer Grafenberg". The wines, which are characterized by red sandstone, are very popular. Since 2017, a historic terraced vineyard has been recultivated below the Sonnenburg, where individual vines over 100 years old can still be found. This is an important contribution to the preservation of the cultural landscape around Bad Sulza. In the modern winery, the wines mature in stainless steel tanks and traditional wooden barrels and barriques. The winemaking philosophy of making the wines traditionally dry underlines the unmistakable character and special nature of these Thuringian wines. Regional and international awards as well as the positive feedback from numerous customers testify to the high quality standards. A visit to the winery in Sonnendorf is always worthwhile. From the vantage point on the Sonnenberg, the view over the picturesque Ilm valley and far into the Saale valley is rewarding. The winery on the former farm has been modernized and the buildings have been extended several times. The inner courtyard was also designed in the spirit of tradition and modernity and a wine shop and tasting rooms were created. Wine tastings and guided tours of the wine cellar take place regularly. Highlights in the annual calendar are the lively events at the estate in Sonnendorf, which now attract visitors from all over Germany. Here, people indulge in wine, culinary and musical delights with dedication and cheerfulness.