Dresden wine centre closes

DRESDEN: The wine bar in Dresden run by award-winning sommelier Jens Pietzonka will close in its current form on 31 August. As early as 31 July, the regular staff familiar to guests will no longer be there. Jens Pietzonka will bid farewell to his regular customers alone on special dates in August. "The economic pressure was too high, we had to pull the ripcord," says Jens Pietzonka, explaining the closure. The two projects "Elbzentrale" and "Tanzzentrale" are not affected by this decision and will continue to exist.

The magazine "Der Feinschmecker" had just announced that Jens Pietzonka would be named "Wine Ambassador of the Year 2024" at the prestigious WINE AWARDS on 9 November in Hamburg. This will not be the first time Pietzonka has been honoured as Sommelier of the Year three times, he has been one of the top 50 sommeliers in Germany since 2023 and was awarded the VDP Grape Eagle Sommelier in 2018.But despite all the passion of the team (in addition to Jens Pietzonka, sommelier Jana Schellenberg and sommelier Alexander Stange), the economic conditions were no longer right: "For some time now, we have seen a significant decline in guests - and even when it was full, the per capita turnover has fallen dramatically," says Pietzonka. The German Hotel and Restaurant Association DEHOGA confirms that this is not an isolated experience: following the increase in VAT from seven to the original 19 per cent in the catering industry at the beginning of the year (which was planned from the outset), around 63 per cent of establishments have fewer guests and around 41 per cent report fewer guests.
fewer guests and around 41 per cent report lower average receipts.

"The Weinzentrale was and is my favourite shop, but I have to look forwards and not backwards," says Pietzonka, who has repeatedly attracted attention with creative ideas in the years since the Weinzentrale opened at the end of August 2015: "Wine tastings for beginners, winemaker evenings, sommelier battles, after-work clubbing with a DJ, parties on the Elbe - Jens Pietzonka does almost everything to make wine enjoyment sociable and popular - and always chooses high-quality growths!" is how the gourmet explains his award.

There are already plans for the future: "The topic of Saxony wine has aroused incredible interest, both among locals and tourists!", says Pietzonka and can well imagine a "Saxon Wine Embassy" - with a delicatessen area by Stefan Hermann and (mainly) Saxon wines For the near future, Jens Pietzonka is planning selective events in August instead of regular opening hours - with one or two visits from winegrowers, a
Sekt&Kabi breakfast on a Sunday, an evening together with Stefan Hermann and two with Friede Hofmann (with whom he very successfully organised a PopUp at the Schuh winery in June/July), and there will also be Pizza & Wine events.

In September, the Jens&Friede pop-up restaurant is expected to make a guest appearance in Berlin-Kreuzberg, and other projects are also in the pipeline, not just in Berlin: "The Weinzentrale will continue to appear as a pop-up - in Dresden in various locations, but also in other regions of Germany," promises Pietzonka.

Jens Pietzonka wants to round off the last four weeks with an extensive programme:

• Friday, 2 August from 6 p.m. - Weinzentrale Klassiker and for the last time - leftover drinking from 10 p.m.
• Saturday, 3 August from 6 pm - PIZZA & WEIN.... Rainer's best Neapolitan pizza meets Jens Weinkeller (reservation recommended)
• Monday, 5 August 7 pm - BRING YOUR OWN BOTTLE - Chardonnay theme (reservation required)
• Tuesday, 6 August from 6 pm - a normal Tuesday at the Weinzentrale
• Friday, 9 August from 6 pm - THE POP UP JENS&FRIEDE - sommelier meets top chef - 4-course menu with #bestof wine accompaniment (reservation required)
• Saturday, 10 August from 6 pm - DAS POP UP JENS&FRIEDE - sommelier meets top chef - 4-course menu with #bestof wine accompaniment (reservation required)
• Sunday, 11 August 10 am to 2 pm - SEKT & KABI BREAKFAST in front of the Weinzentrale (in case of bad weather in the Weinzentrale) - reservation required
• Monday, 12 August from 6 pm - WINZER TO GUEST Fréderic Fourré for the last time, farewell evening for Jana Schellenberg and pizza from Rainer's oven (reservation recommended)
• Wednesday, 14 August from 6 pm - Wine Wednesday, Jens opens his favourite wines for you
• Friday, 16 August 7 pm - bean&beluga Revival with Stefan Hermann at the cooking pot and Jens at the corkscrew (reservation required)
• Monday, 19 August from 6 pm - Last Monday - the last Monday at the bar with Jens
• Tuesday, 20 August from 6 pm - a normal Tuesday in the Weinzentrale
• Wednesday, 21 August from 7 pm - WINE CLUBBING Sushi, Wine, DJ & Dance (reservation required)
• Tuesday, 27 August from 6 pm - BLUBBER & OYSTERS - last oyster evening and Pol Roger champagne (reservation recommended)
• Wednesday, 28 August from 7 pm - WINE CLUBBING Sushi, Wine, DJ & Dance (reservation required)