Heida (wine)
| Heida | |
|---|---|
| Synonyms | Traminer (German speakers), Savagnin and Savagnin blanc (French speakers) |
| Art | Grape vine ( Vitis vinifera subsp. Vinifera ) |
| Berry color | whitish |
| use | |
| origin | Swiss canton of Valais |
| known since | oldest surviving document from the 16th century |
| VIVC no. | 17636 |
| List of grape varieties | |
The Heida is a Valais AOC -certified white wine made from the Savagnin blanc grape variety . It is considered the traditional white grape variety of Valais and is a Valais Grand Cru . This Valais rarity of an old grape variety is also known as the pearl of alpine wines .
Highest vineyard north of the main Alpine ridge
The Heida finds ideal conditions on the sunny, steep slopes of the Vispertal . In Visperterminen, the vine terraces with the characteristic dry stone walls are located at a height between 600 and 1150 meters above sea level, where the floors are criss-crossed by glacial moraines and sandstone as well as some clay slate with medium-sized limestone deposits. This makes them one of the highest vineyards in Europe or the highest vineyard north of the main Alpine ridge . The sunshine is high there and the warm foehn days in late autumn allow the golden yellow grapes of the Heida to fully ripen.
For some years now, the Heida has also been expanding in area in the rest of Valais.
origin
The oldest surviving document that mentions the Heida comes from the middle of the 16th century from the region of Varen in Upper Valais . In addition, the names "Heyda" and "Rÿebe" appear on November 29, 1586 in a resolution passed by the Visp Council of Tenants . The term "grape" refers to the lower part of the Visperterminen vineyard, which is still called Ribe today.
However, it can be assumed that the Heida was cultivated in the Valais long before, because the name indicates ancestry before the Christianization of the Valais. In addition, archaeological finds show that the Celts were already involved in viticulture in Visperterminen.
Names
In Valais German , "Heida" means "original" or "old" or "pre-Christian" or "in pagan times". Since 1812 the French-speaking people of Lower Valais have also called Heida "Païen".
properties
The Heida is mostly grown dry, but is also well suited for the production of sweet wine . In good years he can achieve up to 100 Öchsle degrees . Because of its high alcohol content of up to 14%, it was founded in 1901 by Dr. GF Stebler, private lecturer at the ETH Zurich , called a "dangerous leg breaker". Characteristic for wine from Heida is the lush, straw yellow color and the strong body.
Tasting
The Heida can be enjoyed both young and after a few years. It offers an extremely fine and broadly delicate bouquet with aromas of citrus and exotic fruits as well as honey and nuts. On the palate it combines full-bodied vinosity, lively freshness and structure with a long-lasting finish.
St. Jodern Cellar Cooperative
The St. Jodern Kellerei cooperative was founded in Visperterminen in 1979 with the aim of guaranteeing the high quality of the Vispertal wine, i.e. the Heida wine. The now more than 500 members of the cooperative produce around 300,000 liters of wine annually, which the St. Jodern Cellar fills in over 400,000 bottles. Incidentally, St. Jodern or St. Theodul is the patron saint of the Visperterminen parish church of the Visp deanery .
Web links
- Europe's highest vineyard - Heidadorf Visperterminen accessed on December 1, 2017.
- St. Jodern Kellerei Cooperative accessed on December 1, 2017.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Articles 32, 54 and 88 of the Ordinance on Viticulture and Wine (916.142), Sion March 17, 2004
- ↑ The "highest vineyard in Europe" is alive , on swissinfo.ch, as seen on March 7, 2017.