The white grape variety probably originates from France. Around 180 synonyms testify to the vine's great age and widespread distribution throughout Europe. The most important, 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 Champagner, 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 should 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 Gouais Blanc variety (France) is genetically identical to Weißer Heunisch (Germany), although the development of the two varieties has been different.

Many of the synonyms were sometimes 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 as "hunisce druben". It is associated with the Huns and is said to have been 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 reference 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
• Tricoloured Heunisch: colour mutation of White Heunisch
• Yellow Heunisch: probably a variety of White Heunisch
• Coarse He unisch: probably a variety of White Heunisch
• Green Heunisch: synonym for Elbling
• Seedless He unisch: somatic mutation of Weißer Heunisch
• Red Heunisch 1 (Gouais Gris): parentage unknown
• Red Heunisch 2: cross between White Heunisch x unknown partner
• Red-striped He unisch: colour mutation of White Heunisch
• Black Heunisch (Gouais Noir): Sweetblack x White Heunisch

There are many hypotheses about the origin of the French name. The most likely hypothesis assumes a commune that gave the name, whereby the following are possible: Gouaix (Seine-et-Marne), Gouais-les-Saint-Bris (Yonne), Gouex (Vienne) or Goix (Nièvre). All four départements are located...