Blaufränkisch puts its stamp on Mittelburgenland – The wine country postage stamp series for 2016 is here!

The late-ripening Blaufränkisch is an indigenous Austrian grape variety, already being described in the 18th century as a particularly fine variety for producing wine. Blaufränkisch yields dark, powerful and earthy red wines with fine tannins and a distinctively vivid varietal bouquet. Its characteristic aromas are those of blackberries, dark cherries and raspberries, with spicy highlights of herbs and mint, typically showing a pronounced core of tannins in the finish. Blaufränkisch is also a perfect food companion, pairing beautifully with wild game, lamb, steaks or hard cheeses. Lightly chilled, it also does very nicely alongside grilled dishes in the summertime.

The nature of the soil in Mittelburgenland is ideal for Blaufränkisch: sand and gravel soils, but above all heavy, deep loams that store a great deal of water and facilitate the production of full bodied and highly flavoured red wines. The top-quality regionally typical Blaufränkisch wines of Mittelburgenland are arranged according to the three-tier DAC model: Mittelburgenland DAC, Mittelburgenland DAC with vineyard designation, and Mittelburgenland DAC Reserve. Fine wines from Blaufränkisch show very good potential for aging, and can be cellared for up to fifteen years without losing expressivity.

The pictorial theme of this year’s special issue stamp shows Kobersdorf Castle – in the eponymous Mittelburgenland municipality – in the middle of a red wine glass. The original medieval fort was first mentioned in the 13th century and around 1529 remodelled into a castle while also being expanded as a fortress. From the 18th century onward the building with the striking round towers deteriorated appreciably, suffering damage from both flooding and fires. It was not until architect Martha Bolldorf-Reitstätter acquired the property in the 1960s that a comprehensive restoration was undertaken – the Mannerism-style knights’ hall is certainly worth a visit. Since 1972 a series of dramatic productions known as the “Schlossspiele Kobersdorf” have been performed in the castle.

The special issue postage stamp “Mittelburgenland” is available as of 16th July in Austrian post offices as well as from the online shop of the Post, in the value of 0.80 Euro.