White Humagne
White humagne vines are native to the Valais and are responsible for the reputation and originality of the wine production from Valais. It is undoubtedly authentic. White humagne is only cultivated in Valais and nowhere else. Recent ADN research only enabled us to find similar vine varieties in the South of France (Colombaud in Provence and Chichaud in Ardèche) but its "parents" have not been identified.
White humagne has been cultivated in Valais since the beginning of the 14th Century. It is nick named "the wine for new mothers" as its iron content is very high compared with other known varieties. It must also be said that white humagne has nothing to do with red humagne which has wrongfully taken its name.
White humagne is a vine variety which ripens rather late, three weeks later than chasselas. It is a very vigorous vine variety with little productivity and ripens with difficulty. Its fertility is temperamental; one shoot can be over loaded with fruit whilst the one next to it doesn't have a single grape. Other weaknesses associated with this vine variety include: sensitivity to rot and it can also have a tendency to lack magnesia to a certain extent. It is therefore not surprising that the best zones have to be reserved for it, well exposed and ventilated.
The leaves on white humagne vines are medium in all ways, size, length and density. They are slightly blistered with five lobes and the leaf stalk is open at the bottom. The medium sized grapes are greeny yellow and round.
White humagne is a dry wine with a high alcohol content. When it is young, its acidity is subtle and in perfect harmony with its delicate floral tones. White humagne is a wine which ages well. With the years, it acquires a strong personality by developing hints of resin and spice which make it rustic and original. White humagne ages very well in barrels.
As mentioned above, white humagne is only cultivated in Valais. The surface area which it occupies has almost doubled in the last decade, but it is so demanding that it is not likely to be popular anywhere else. There are only 13 hectares of it world wide.
When it's young, white humagne can be drunk with cheese dishes, grilled fish or as an aperitif. If it has been allowed to age for a few years, it goes wonderfully well with chicken liver or game pâté, as well as with stronger cheeses from high mountain pastures.