🍇 Hebén
An old white Spanish grape with female flowers; according to VIVC, a parent of 117 varieties, including Airén and Pedro Ximénez.
Hebén is an old white grape from Spain. The VIVC catalogue marks it as both a wine and a table grape and lists 33 synonyms, among them Gibi, Mourisco branco and Passerille blanche.
An unusual feature of Hebén is its female flowers. A grape with such flowers cannot pollinate itself: for berries to form, vines with pollen have to grow nearby.
What makes Hebén most interesting is its offspring. The VIVC parentage database contains 117 varieties for which Hebén is one of the parents. Among them are Airén, Pedro Ximénez, Parellada, Macabeo (Viura), Xarel·lo, Malvasia fina, Malvar, Sumoll, Trepat, Cayetana blanca, Zalema and the Sardinian Monica nera. So many wines of Spain, Portugal and Sardinia have Hebén in their family tree. The offspring also include modern crosses, such as a whole series of Gargiulo varieties.
The second parent of these grapes is often unknown, but for a few of them VIVC names it. For example, Malvar is the offspring of Hebén and Folha de Figueira, Viura and Xarel·lo of Hebén and Brustiano faux, and Malvasia fina of Hebén and Alfrocheiro.
Why it matters to you. Airén, Macabeo (Viura), Parellada, Xarel·lo or Pedro Ximénez on a label are grapes related through a common ancestor, Hebén; DNA analysis in the VIVC catalogue showed this. Passerille blanche in old French descriptions is also Hebén. White wines are served at 4–10 °C.
How it connects to Wine
🍇 Hebén → kind of → 🍇 Grape varieties → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Part of
- 🍇 Grape varieties
- Origin
- 🗺️ Spanish wine
- Wines made from it
- 🍷 White wine
- Offspring
- 🍇 Macabeo, 🍇 Pedro Ximénez, 🍇 Xarel·lo, 🍇 Airén, 🍇 Tinta Negra Mole, 🍇 Malvasia Fina, 🍇 Parellada, 🍇 Trepat, 🍇 Tourbat, 🍇 Cayetana Blanca
and 23 more
🍇 Zalema, 🍇 Beba, 🍇 Pascale di Cagliari, 🍇 Bourrisquou, 🍇 Malvar, 🍇 Albaranzeuli Bianco, 🍇 Alcañón, 🍇 Verdil, 🍇 Caberinta, 🍇 Vijariego Blanco, 🍇 Alarije, 🍇 Chelva, 🍇 Molinera, 🍇 Albillo Mayor, 🍇 Côdega do Larinho, 🍇 Malvasia de Colares, 🍇 Sumoll, 🍇 Merseguera, 🍇 Monica, 🍇 Damaschino, 🍇 Mandó, 🍇 Derechero, 🍇 Vigiriega
Frequently asked questions
What is Hebén?
An old white grape from Spain; VIVC marks it as both a wine and a table grape.
What is special about Hebén's flowers?
They are female, so berries form only with pollen from other vines nearby.
How many varieties descend from Hebén?
In the VIVC parentage database, 117 varieties for which it is one of the parents.
Which well-known grapes are Hebén's offspring?
Airén, Pedro Ximénez, Parellada, Macabeo (Viura), Xarel·lo, Malvasia fina, Malvar, Trepat.
Is it true that Passerille blanche is a different grape?
No. According to VIVC, it is one of Hebén's 33 synonyms, like Gibi.
What to read next
- 🗺️ Spanish wine — The country's wine and winemaking: regions, grapes and appellations.
- 🍇 Airén — White wine and table grape from Spain; one parent is Heben; 28 synonyms in VIVC.
- 🍷 White wine — Wine made from grape juice without the skins; it can come from pale and even dark berries.
- 🍇 Tinta Negra Mole — Dark-skinned wine and table grape from Spain; one parent is Heben; 36 synonyms in VIVC.
- 🍇 Vigiriega — A rare Spanish white grape; on El Hierro it grows ungrafted, it has 14 synonyms, and it suits sparkling wines.
Similar
🍇 Maturana Blanca · 🍇 Perruno · 🍇 Sumoll Blanc · 🍇 Jaén Tinto · 🍇 Brustiano Faux · 🍇 Moravia Dulce
Sources
- VIVC (Vitis International Variety Catalogue): passport Hebén, area
- VIVC: pedigree search «HEBEN» (117 varieties with Hebén as a parent)
- Simons C.T. Left out in the cold: Serving wines chilled. Temperature, 2019