Frankish and Hunnic grape varieties
Heunisch was up to the middle of the 19th century in Central Europe, widespread and important grape variety that appears as a parent of many of today's quality grape varieties. This variety brings large berries with thick skins produced and exists in a white and red version. The large berries delivered at full ripening perfectly acceptable qualities. Heunisch is characterized by high yield quantities and is relatively secure earnings due to a late bud break in years with a late frost. Genetic tests show that the Heunisch was widespread in Central Europe so that at least 75 of the currently known varieties have emerged from it. Through breeding with the Burgundy grapes or Vitis vinifera silvestris varieties such as Chardonnay or Riesling originated.
Since the High Middle Ages, the Heunisch is widely used in the German wine-growing regions. The scattering of the Northeast and West France, Switzerland, West Germany and Eastern Europe is occupied by the customer name. In French sources of Heunisch is called since the 13th century Gouais Blanc. Philippe de Beaumanoir noted in 1283 the red Heunisch as a simple variety, for which you receive only half of the Pinot Gris in the sale. As Gwäss the French name in German-speaking Switzerland is borrowed. Widely used the Heunisch was in Eastern and Southeastern Europe and delivered here good to very good qualities. In Transylvania, the famous Cotnari was produced from him, for example.
The name Heunisch is often associated with the term " Hun " " huntsch " or " hünsch ". First, it was " Hun " or derived " Heunisch " by the Huns. However, this refers not the horsemen of the migration period, but the people of Hungary and their settlement area in the Pannonian plain, the extent of which in the Middle Ages was much larger than the present state of Hungary. Philip Jacob Sachs writes in 1661 in his ampelography, the Heunisch had been taken at the beginning of the 10th century by the Huns and the Hungarians during their raids into Germany. In Isidorian Glossary Summarium Heinrici the name appears huniscdrubo. The text of Isidore text was corrupt. Balanite was misspelled balatine what Heinrich translated as a large grape. That the original notion isidorische Balanin related to the size of acorns and was not understood by Heinrich, is irrelevant in this context. It is instructive rather that Henry the great grapes with Lake Balaton, Balaton, brought into connection and accordingly translated as huniscdrubo. He should thus a Hungarian-born vine with large clusters have been known, which was apparently planted at Lake Balaton
During the high and late Middle Ages, a distinction in the German wine-growing regions between Hun ( Pannonia ) and Franconian vineyards. The interpretation of this term employs the research for a long time. Fritz Schumann even speaks of the " great wine Mystery of the Middle Ages ". The two terms Hun and Frankish outlines not only today elusive varieties differences, but also differences in quality. Hildegard of Bingen notes in the second half of the 12th century in her Physica, the Franconian wine is a strong wine, which must be mixed with water, whereas the Huns was inherently watery and did not need to be diluted.
How executes Dr. Regner of the wine school Klosterneuburg, the Heunisch is seen more as a family than as a grape variety in the modern sense. Genetically is also the origin of Riesling from Heunisch - the other parent is a Traminer clone - proved, as well as Chardonnay, Auxerrois and Melon de Bourgogne crosses with the Burgundians are.
The Heunisch can be referred to with Traminer and burgundy as the root locations of modern Central European grape varieties.
Today, only very small remnants of Heunisch are available - including Croatia (→ Viticulture in Croatia), Romania ( → Viticulture in Romania ), Slovenia ( → viticulture in Slovenia ) and Ukraine (→ Viticulture in the Ukraine ). Today the Heunisch Vine is specifically increased, so among other things, by the Institute for Grapevine Breeding Geilweilerhof Siebeldingen.