Horitschoner Herzkirschenbrand

Traditionally produced fruit spirit from heart-cherries in the region of Horitschon, Burgenland.
 
 
Record Number: 35
 
Disclosure Date
Oral tradition goes back to the 18th century.
 
 
Title
Horitschoner Herzkirschenbrand
(Horitschon heart-cherry spirit) 
 
Abstract or claim
Traditionally produced fruit spirit from heart-cherries in the region of Horitschon, Burgenland.
 
Name of product, Product class
Spirit drinks
 
Name of region
Horitschon and surroundings, Middle Burgenland, Burgenland, Austria
 
Field of search
Agriculture and Spirit drinks 
  
Name of information provider
Fruit sales association Horitschon, PANNONIA GesnbR
 
Name of applicant for title
---
 
Holder of knowledge or associated resources 
---
 
Grantee(s), holder(s),
assignee(s) or owner(s) of title, if any
---
 
Descriptors
 
- History:
Oral tradition going back to the 18th century informs that cherry trees were brought from the Hungarian area around Sopron to Horitschon (during the Austrian-Hungarian Monarchy both regions belonged to German West-Hungary; since 1921 Sopron forms part of Hungary and Horitschon belongs to Austria) where they were cultivated and grafted.
 
Today’s Horitschoner Herzkirsche (Horitschon heart-cherries) seems to be the result of such graftages. At the turn from the 19^th   to the 20^th   century the heart-cherry trees were frequently planted in the vineyards of this area, the so-called Blaufränkischland (Blaufränkisch, literally: Blue Frankish, is the German name for a variety of red wine grapes).
The then cherry trees were grafted onto fast-growing rootstocks such as native wild cherries. They reached heights of up to 10 metres.
The trees were planted just within vine rows of already existing vineyards and delivered an additional income to winegrowers.
In the years from about 1950 to 1980 a good portion of the cherries was sold on the open market to distributors who brought the cherries to markets in the capital Vienna.
 
- Region:
Horitschon, Blaufränkischland, Middle Burgenland
 
- Horitschoner Herzkirschen:
Growth-form, colour and maturing time of Horitschon heart-cherries indicate that they are related to today’s widely spread cherry variety “Germersdorfer”.
They are very sensitive to late frosts and temperatures below -20^o  C during wintertime.
 
- Utilization:
Horitschon heart-cherries are either sold on fresh markets or used for the distillation of cherry spirits.
Since the 1980s, the Horitschon producers’ association (PANNONIA) has directly provided well-known fruit trade chains with cherries.
Cherries are mashed and then distilled to cherry brandy by some local enterprises and sold by way of farm-gate sale.
 
Perfectly ripe and immaculate cherries are necessary to get cherry spirits of highest quality.
 
The Horitschon heart-cherry spirit tastes fruity and is intensively aromatic.
 
- Protection:
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Key Words 
Agriculture and Spirit drinks, Traditional Knowledge, Austria, Burgenland, Middle Burgenland, region, Horitschon, Blaufränkischland, heart-cherries, heart-cherry brandy, Horitschoner Herzkirschenbrand, Horitschoner heart-cherry spirit, Germersdorfer, Prunus avium
 
Bibliography/ References
- Veredelte Tropfen aus Horitschon 
  http://www.burgenland-mitte.at/index.php/content/view/790/49/ 
- Herzkirschen (Prunus avium) 
  http://www.bio-gaertner.de/Articles/I.Pflanzen-dieDatenbank/Obstbaeume-Baumfruechte/Herzkirschen.html
  
Language Code
German
 
Product of www.genuss-region.at 
No
 
Regional contact 
Obstverkaufsgemeinschaft Horitschon, PANNONIA GesnbR,
7312 Horitschon, Günser Str. 58
Sales manager: Emmerich KOHLMANN,
Phone: 0664/49 64 909,
Email: kohlmann@pannonia-obst.at
Website: www.pannonia-obst.at 
 
Authors: Eva Sommer, Dr. Erhard Höbaus
 

22.02.2010, Lebensministerium III/4