The red grape variety originates from the Swiss/Italian border region. Synonyms are Großblau, Große Blaue Mörsch, Hitzkirchener, Hitzkirchler and Mörsch. In the canton of Lucerne, for example in the municipality of Hitzkirch, which gave its name to the grape variety, it was/is often confused with Briegler = Bondola, which is also cultivated here. This has been explained by DNA analyses carried out in 2011. This is because the two varieties Bondoletta and Hitzkircher were created from presumably natural crosses between Bondola x Completer. In Switzerland, the variety is counted among the Old Growths grape variety group. In 2016 no stocks were recorded (statistics Kym Anderson).
Source: Kym Anderson: Wine Grapes / J. Robinson, J. Harding, J. Vouillamoz / Penguin Books Ltd. 2012
Pictures: Ursula Brühl, Doris Schneider, Julius Kühn Institute (JKI)
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