The Dot Winery
Lower Austria (Niederösterreich), Weinviertel, Austria
The Dot is a modern Austrian wine range made by the Pfaffl family, whose winery is based in Stetten, in Lower Austria. The idea behind the range is simple: make Austrian wines approachable without losing the character that makes them worth drinking. The labels use memorable names such as Austrian Pepper, Austrian Peach and Austrian Apple, giving each wine a hint of its main flavour profile before you even pull the cork.
The wines are produced by Weingut R&A Pfaffl, a family winery with vineyards spread across the Weinviertel and neighbouring areas around Vienna. The region is particularly well suited to Grüner Veltliner, Austria’s signature white grape, which can deliver everything from crisp citrus and green apple to its familiar white-pepper spice. Pfaffl also works with Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and local red varieties, including Zweigelt and St. Laurent.
The range plays with these grape personalities. Austrian Pepper is Grüner Veltliner, with fresh apple, citrus, herbs and a little peppery bite. Austrian Peach is Riesling, bringing fragrant stone fruit and bright acidity, while Austrian Apple offers a crisp, dry take on Grüner Veltliner. The red wines include Austrian Cherry, made from Zweigelt, and Austrian Plum, made from St. Laurent, both built around juicy fruit and an easy-going style.
The Dot’s appeal is its clarity. The wines are designed to be expressive and uncomplicated to understand, with the names helping drinkers navigate different styles without needing to memorise Austrian grape varieties. That doesn’t mean the wines are simplistic. Behind the friendly labels is a serious producer with a strong grasp of vineyard management and careful cellar work, aiming to keep the fruit fresh and the regional character intact.
For anyone getting to know Austrian wine, The Dot is a useful place to start. It offers a straightforward introduction to varieties such as Grüner Veltliner, Riesling and Zweigelt, with a playful identity that makes the range easy to remember. The labels may be light-hearted, but the wines come from a family winery with deep roots in one of Austria’s most important wine-growing regions.
