Steirischer Hirschbirnenbrand

Traditionally produced spirit drink made of the local pear variety Hirschbirne in the Federal Province of Styria.
 
 
Record Number: 40
 
Disclosure Date
Egle, A. (1894 – 1899): Ortschronik von Pöllau (Chronicle of the Municipality of Pöllau) 
 
 
Title
Steirischer Hirschbirnenbrand
(Styrian Hirschbirnen spirit drink) 
 
Abstract or claim
Traditionally produced spirit drink made of the local pear variety Hirschbirne in the Federal Province of Styria.
 
Name of product, Product class
Spirit drinks
 
Name of region
Pöllau Valley, political district of Hartberg, East-Styria, Styria, Austria
 
Field of search
Agriculture and Spirit drinks
 
Names of information provider
---
 
Name of applicant for title
---
 
Holders of knowledge or associated resources 
---
 
Grantee(s), holder(s),
assignee(s) or owner(s) of title, if any
---
 
Descriptors
 
- History:
In the village chronicle of the municipality of, Pöllau (1894 - 1899) the pear variety Hirschbirne is first mentioned in writing as the basis of the traditional fruit spirit.
 
- Region:
Pöllau Valley, political district of Hartberg, East-Styria, Styria.
The Styrian Hirschbirne is to be found nearly exclusively in the small-sized natural park Pöllauer Valley Nature Park (about 124 km²  , 345 - 1280 m  above sea level).
 
- Styrian Hirschbirne:
The designation Hirschbirne (lit. deer pear) appears to be a dialect modification of the word “Herbstbirne” (lit. autumn pear).
Another vernacular name is “Rote Weinbirne” (lit. red wine pear).
The Hirschbirne is considered to be a Styrian seedling and apparently stems from the pear variety ”Welsche Bratbirne”.
 
Trees of the Hirschbirne are autochthonous trees and are protected in Austria.
 
The oldest trees are found either in extensive orchards or as tree rows in the Pöllau Valley.
 
The pear trees are characterized by longevity (up to 200 years), unique frost resistance of its their big white blossoms, and by high yields.

The pear trees are best grown in areas of an altitude of 450 – 800 (up to 1100) meters above sea-level.
 
The pears are rather big. Theyare citreous to brown-red in colourand show brown, rusty dots on the side exposed to the sun.
The pulp is yellow-white and has a firm and very juicy texture.
 
The pears are harvested from end-September to mid-October and are ripe for consumption from October to November.
The fruits are ideally suited for transport, storage and processing.
 
- Utilization:
About 100 kg of Hirschbirnen yield approximately 3 litres of Hirschbirnen spirit drink. The drink shall have at least 38% alcohol by volume.
Hirschbirnen spirit drink is made exclusively of the pear variety “Hirschbirne”.
The flavour of the spirit drink is described as follows:
“Intense, youthful pear flavour with an astringent touch of green pepper and sensational freshness, brilliant aroma, apparently juvenescent playful but of fervid, animating power”.
 
- Protection:
The designation “Steirischer Hirschbirnenbrand” (Styrian Hirschbirnen spirit drink) is protected for the geographical area of Styria in the Codex Alimentarius Austriacus, Chapter B 23: Spirits. Annex 1: Protected Designation.
 
Key Words 
Agriculture and Spirit drinks, Traditional Knowledge, Austria, Styria, East-Styria, region, political district ofHartberg, Pöllau Valley, Hirschbirne, Herbstbirne, Rote Weinbirne, Steirischer Hirschbirnenbrand, Styrian Hirschbirnen spirit drink, Pyrus communis L.
 
Bibliography/ References
- Codex Alimentarius Austriacus Chapter B 23: Spirits. Annex 1: Protected Designations.
- Various documents of the regions of Pöllau and Stubenberg
- Steiermärkische Landesregierung (Landhaus – Provincial Government of the Federal Province of Styria)
  Graz (Ed.) (1921): Landes-Normal- Sortiment von Kern-, Stein-, Schalen- und Beerenobst f. Stmk,
  Graz. 
- GRÖßBAUER. Hirschbirne. Die Mostbirnen- Beschreibung der in Österreich am häufigsten 
  angepflanzten Mostbirnensorten (Österreichischen Obstbau- u. Pomologen-Gesellschaft). Friedrich Sperl
  Verlag, Vienna, 1913; 16.
- EGLE, A. (1894 – 1899): Ortschronik von Pöllau (Chronicle of the Municipality of Pöllau)
- GRILL D, KEPPEL H.  Alte Apfel- und Birnensorten für den Streuobstanbau. Leopold Stocker Verlag, Graz,
  2005; 218.
- Pöllauer Hirschbirne 
  www.naturpark-poellauertal.at 
- April 2006: Hirschbirnenbrand
  http://www.naturparke.at/ 
- Pöllauer Hirschbirne 
  http://www.genuss-region.at/article/archive/13905
- Die Hirschbirne- Die Entdeckung
  http://www.hirschbirne.at/ 
- Birnensorten- Datenbank: Hirschbirne(Database of pear varieties: Hirschbirne) 
  http://www.ova-online.at/datenbank/birnensorten.php 
- Die Hirschbirne- Die Entdeckung 
  http://www.obsthof-retter.at/  
 
Language Code
German
 
Product of www.genuss-region.at 
No
 
Regional contact 
Mr.Alois Pöltl
Schönau 45
8225 Pöllau
Phone: 03335/2045
 
Authors: Eva Sommer, Dr. Erhard Höbaus 
  

26.02.2010, Lebensministerium III/4