The Roman and Adelheid Pfaffl winery is located in the municipality of Stetten near Korneuburg on the north-western city border of Wien in the wine-growing region of Weinviertel in Lower Austria. The farm, which has been run for generations, was taken over by the current winemaker Roman Pfaffl (*1951) from his parents in 1978. At that time, however, viticulture played only a minor role with less than one hectare of vineyards. But then began the rapid rise to what is today often called "Mr. Veltliner". In 2003, newly built tasting rooms, a vinotheque, a winter garden and a barrique warehouse were put into operation. In 2019, there was a significant expansion and investment in state-of-the-art cellar technology.
As chairman of the Weinviertel regional committee, Roman Pfaffl was instrumental in creating the first wine classified as DAC (Districtus Austriae Controllatus) in Austria from the 2002 vintage onwards, with the designation Weinviertel DAC, which is pressed from the typical grape variety Grüner Veltliner. The winery is a member of the Winegrowers' Association Premium Wine Estates Weinviertel. Since 2000, the vineyards have been leased or cultivated by Schlossweingut Bockfliess. Despite its considerable size, the estate has remained a pure family business. On its 60th birthday, responsibility passed to son Roman Josef Pfaffl and daughter Heidemarie Fischer.
The vineyards in the Weinviertel cover 102 hectares of vineyards and extend over eleven communities, including the Altenberg, In goldenen Jochen, Haidviertel, Hundsleiten, Neuberg, Rossern, Sandtal, Seiser am Eck, Sonnleiten and Zeiseneck vineyards. They are 85% planted with the white wine varieties Grüner Veltliner (with about 40% of the total area the leading variety),Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc, and 30% with the red wine varieties Zweigelt, St. Laurent, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The variety of grape varieties results from the diversity of soil types and microclimates found in the southern Weinviertel. The vineyards are cultivated in a natural and sustainable way according to the certified rules of Nachhaltig Austria. This includes duration cover crop, careful foliage work, as well as the renunciation of plant protection products and chemical fertilisation. The entire production is carried out according to certified HACCP criteria.
The premium wines of the parent company include the two white wines Grüner Veltliner Weinviertel DAC HAID and ZEISEN, the three white wines Grüner Veltliner Weinviertel DAC Reserve HUND, GOLDEN and HOMMAGE, the white wine Riesling PASSION, the red wine St. Laurent Reserve ALTEN, as well as the two red wine cuvées "Excellent" (60% Zweigelt, 20% each Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot) and "Heidrom" (50% each Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon).
Since the 2004 vintage, red wines and white wines have also been produced in the vineyard Wien. The vineyards close to the winery cover 18 hectares of vineyards in the Bisamberger Rieden Herrenholz and Praschen, among others. These are the white wine cuvée "Wien 1" (Riesling, Grüner Veltliner, Pinot Blanc), the red wine cuvée "Wien 2" (Zweigelt, Pinot Noir) as well as a pure red wine made from Pinot Noir. In addition, brandy, secco and bottle-fermented sparkling wine are also produced. The winery is a member of the Winegrowers' Association Premium Wine Estates Weinviertel.
Pictures © Pfaffl Winery
