The white grape variety probably originates from France. Around 180 synonyms attest to the vine's great age and wide distribution throughout Europe. The most important ones, grouped alphabetically by country, are Bauernweinbeer, Bettschisser, Bordenauer, Borzenauer, Branestraube, Braune, Braune Traube, Burgegger, Burger, Dickweiße, Dickwiss, Frankenthaler, Grobes, Grobes Saures, Grobwein, Grobweißer, Hensch, Heunisch, Heinisch, Heinsch, Hensch, Hentschler, Heunscher, Heunschler, Hinschen, Hintsch, Hunnentraube, Hunsch, Hünsch, Hunschrebe, Huntsch, Hynsch, Hyntsch, Kleinberger, Langstieliger Champagne, Laxiertraube, Mehlweiß, Quadler, Scheißtraube, Thalburger, Thalburger Grünling, Weißer Zapfner, Weißgrobe, Weißstock, Wippacher (Germany and/or Austria); Blanc de Serres, Bon Blanc, Bouillan, Bouillaud, Bouilleaud, Enfariné Blanc, Foirard, Gauche Blanc, Goi, Goix, Gôt, Gouche, Gouche Blanche, Gouest Sauge, Gouet Blanc, Gouette, Gouget Blanc, Goys, Gros Blanc, Gueuche Blanc, Lisoera, Lombard Blanc, Moreau Blanc, Mouillet, Petit Gouge, Plant de Séchex, Plant Madame, Président, Provereau Blanc, Verdet, Verdin Blanc (France); Blanció, Liseiret, Preveiral (Italy); Belina, Belina Drobna, Krapinska Belina, Pikanina Bijela (Croatia); Branco Valente, Gigante Branco (Portugal); Gouais Jaune, Gwäss (Switzerland); Hajnos (Hungary).
Varieties - Heunisch/Gouais Blanc
Despite seemingly suggestive synonyms or morphological similarities, it must not be confused with the varieties Orléans (Hartheunisch) or Ranfol. The numerous grape varieties with the name part "Heunisch" are not all related to each other. Most of them no longer have any significance and are only in vineyards for historical reasons (e.g. Geilweilerhof and Domaine de Vassal). The variety Gouais Blanc (France) is genetically identical to Weißer Heunisch (Germany), although the development of the two varieties has been different.
Many of the synonyms were partly used "crosswise" for several Heunisch varieties. The German name Heunisch dates back to the early Middle Ages and was allegedly first mentioned in the 11th century with "hunisce druben". It associates with the Huns and that it was supposedly brought to Europe by them. However, this hypothesis is difficult to prove. For many centuries, the terms "Heunisch" (for "coarse") and "Fränkisch" (for "fine") were the only wine or quality designations and did not refer to a specific variety. A reliable mention was made in 1546 in the famous "Kreütter Buch" by Hieronymus Bock (1498-1554: "Die großen feiste (dicke) Hynische Drauben, welche umb (wegen) ihrer schnelle würckung willen, von etlichen scheiss Drauben genandt werden". The varieties of the Heunisch group:
- White Heunisch (Gouais Blanc, Gouais Jaune, Gouais Long, Gouais Rond)
- Blue Heunisch: cross Feridac x unknown partner
- Tricolour He unish: colour mutation of White Heunish
- Yellow He unish: probably a variety of White Heunish
- Coarse He unish: probably a variety of White Heunish
- Green Heunisch: synonym for Elbling
- Kernel-less He unisch: somatic mutation of White Heunisch
- Red Heunisch 1 (Gouais Gris): Ancestry unknown
- Red Heunisch 2: crossbreed White Heunisch x unknown partner
- Red-striped He unish: colour mutation of White Heunish
- Black He unish (Gouais Noir): White Heunish x Sweet Black
There are many hypotheses about the origin of the French name. The most likely assumes a naming commune, with the following being possible: Gouaix (Seine-et-Marne), Gouais-les-Saint-Bris (Yonne), Gouex (Vienne) or Goix (Nièvre). All four departments are located in the central...
