Although the white wine variety Gouais Blanc is almost extinct today and only lives in a modest shadowy existence in a few vineyards, it is still one of the most important grape varieties in Europe, especially in view of the evolution of the diversity of grape varieties in Western and Eastern Europe. In the Middle Ages, however, the variety was very widespread in Europe. Hardly anyone knows this variety under the name Gouais Blanc, but it is much better known under the name Heunisch. Heunisch is considered the father of many very different grape varieties such as Gamay Noir, Colombard, Chenin Blanc, Furmint, Blaufränkisch and Riesling. He is said to be responsible for a total of 81 different grape varieties. The Heunisch is already described in Hieronymos Bock's "Kreutterbuch" in 1536, and there are also sources in Switzerland from 1564. The origin of the Gouais Blanc is probably in the northeast of France or in the adjacent southwest Germany. Since it shows little susceptibility to cold and winter frosts, it is very suitable for cultivation in cool wine-growing regions. However, it is susceptible to putrefactive diseases. The grape variety sprouts in the middle segment and ripens after a medium ripening phase. The Gouais Blanc develops large clusters with large, thin-skinned berries. Little can be said about its distribution today. There are still a few plots in Haute-Savoie in France and in side valleys of the Alps north of Piedmont. A handful of winemakers in Switzerland also produce small quantities of Gouais Blanc. It is also known that the top Rheingau winery Georg Breuer has planted a small vineyard with Gouais Blanc; the wine was first released in 2007. No other occurrences are known.
This grape variety is also known by the name of:
Absenger, Weißer Heunisch
