When Roman Pfaffl was awarded the title of "Falstaff Winemaker of the Year" in 1996, a dream he had not dared to dream came true. In just under 20 years, with the help of his wife Adelheid, he had turned an agricultural business with 0.75 hectares of vineyards into an ambitious 20-hectare winery. Another 20 years followed, with the next generation also heavily involved - an ensemble that evidently works: The US magazine "Wine Enthusiast" named the winery "European Winery of the Year 2016", the first time this coveted title has been awarded to an Austrian winery.
For some 45 years, the Pfaffls have been synonymous with high-quality Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Chardonnay, Zweigelt, and St. Laurent. The estate's vineyards, which now cover 150 hectares, are spread over thirteen municipalities in the southern Weinviertel and even extend as far as Vienna. This distribution brings with it a diversity of soils and microclimates that Roman Josef Pfaffl exploits with great skill. He knows how to bring out the characteristics of each site and present his wines in a variety of styles, from light and playful to dense and powerful. This is especially true of the Grüner Veltliner, which is vinified in no fewer than six variations. But the winery is also very strong in reds. "Some of our vineyards benefit from the mild Pannonian influences that reach here via the Marchfeld region," says Roman Josef Pfaffl, who is increasingly passionate about red wines.
