Unreserved Wine Talk

Would you like to learn more about Austrian wines, especially its iconic grape, Gruner Veltliner? Do you know why this wine is one of the most versatile wines on the planet?  Why should an Austrian Heuriger be on your must-visit list? Which Austrian red wine should you try next?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Heidi Fisher Pfaffl who is in charge of business administration and marketing at her family’s winery, Weingut Pfaffl.

• How did the Pfaffl grow from a small farm to 110 hectares of vineyards?
• Why should an Austrian Heuriger be on your must-visit list?
• What aspects of Austrian wine might surprise you?
• What’s the meaning behind the name Wein.1?
• Can Gruner Veltliner be oaked?
• Within what price range can you buy Pfaffl wines?
• Why does Gruner Veltliner pair well with such a wide range of foods?
• Should you buy a bottle of Gruner Veltliner for your cellar?
• What variations would you experience when tasting different Gruner Veltliners?
• Why would you probably find pepper spice Gruner Veltliners especially interesting?
• Can you buy Pfaffl wines across Canada?
• What is Heidi’s favourite food to pair with Gruner Veltliner?
• Which characteristics would you taste in a Gruner Veltliner as it ages?
• How does the rockiness of the Haidvertel impact the wine?
• What was the worst moment in Heidi’s wine career?
• What is the best moment from Heidi’s wine career so far?
• How do old oak barrels influence the flavour profile you’ll taste with wine?
• Why do you need humidity in a wine cellar?
• What ancient characteristic influences what you’ll taste with Zeiseneck Gruner Veltliner?
• Can you taste differences between the wines produced north or south of the Danube?
• How did Gruner Veltliner become the darling of New York sommeliers?
• Which Austrian red wine should you try next?
• What foods should you pair with a glass of Zwiegelt?
• What is the tasting experience with Pfaffl’s entry-level wine, Wein.2?
• How does St. Laurent differ from other grapes?
• How does Zwiegelt compare to Pinot Noir?

Heidi Fisher Pfaffl is in charge of her family’s winery, Weingut R&A Pfaffl, along with her brother, Roman, who is the winemaker and vineyard manager. Heidie takes care of everything else, from business administration to marketing and sales. Pfaffl Winery is one of Austria’s leading wine producers and was recently named European Winery of the Year by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Their vineyards are distributed around the village of Stetten in the Weinviertel and in neighbouring Vienna. Due to the numerous vineyards and their diversity, they are able to produce a broad spectrum of wine styles.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the https://www.nataliemaclean.com/79.