Heida is a wine from pagan times. That’s how long this white wine has existed in Valais. And nothing else is hidden in the name of this wine full of character. In the Upper Valais dialect, the name Heida means nothing more and nothing less than “original”, “very old” or even “pagan”, alluding to the time before Christianization. And what has been vinified with passion and in harmony with the unique Valais nature for countless generations now rightly bears the nickname “Pearl of Alpine wines”.
Origin and distribution
Heida has its origins in the French Jura, where the grape is known as Savagnin or Savagnin blanc for vin jaune and is also known as Traminer in Germany. This disproves the erroneous assumption that persists among wine connoisseurs that it is an autochthonous grape for Valais. And if you want to enjoy Heida in the Lower Valais or in French-speaking Switzerland, you should know that it has been known there as “Païen” (also Paein) since 1812. Of the approximately 200 hectares on which the grape is cultivated as a rarity in Switzerland, 187 hectares are in Valais alone. Vaud is a distant second with 28 hectares, followed by other growing regions in Switzerland with very small plots. 
Worth knowing: Where does the Heida come from?
Heida was first recorded in north-eastern France, in the Jura region. Its more than 100 different synonyms are proof of its wide and early distribution. The grape variety was first mentioned in a document in Valais in 1586. 
The Heida / Savagnin blanc grape variety
In the ampelography, the Heida grape variety is described as follows:
- The shoot tip is open and covered in white woolly hairs, often with a white-greenish hue and a touch of carmine red.
- The young leaves show a slight woolly pubescence and a yellowish coloration. The leaves are usually small and entire, but sometimes rarely five-lobed and deeply indented.
- The stem bay is lyre-shaped and slightly open, while the teeth are medium-sized and blunt-toothed compared to other varieties.
- The cylindrical bunch is small and dense, with small, roundish berries of a whitish color and a neutral taste, with the thick berry skin offering a low susceptibility to raw rot.
- This moderately vigorous variety ripens around 20 days after Chasselas and is considered early ripening. Although yields are often low, an increase in yield can be achieved through targeted vine training, and due to its resistance to raw rot, the variety can remain on the vine until December, although it is susceptible to powdery mildew.
Flavor profile
A Heida has a classic straw-yellow color. This popular, full-bodied white wine impresses with its fresh, lively character, which is elegantly rounded off on the palate with notes of citrus, supported by the fine aromas of exotic fruits, honey, nuts, marzipan and musk. Mathier’s Heida wines impress with an extra portion of freshness, which is achieved through a finely balanced mix of different vineyard sites and well-integrated aromas. The Heida Les Pyramides Valais AOC in particular offers pleasurable moments in the glass, pleasant toasted notes and integrated tannins, as well as ageing potential that allows the wine to be kept for several years – an example of this is the 2020 vintage, which is reaching its peak, and suggests that the 2022 vintage can also be aged for three to five years.
Our Heida wines
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Worth knowing: How much does a bottle of Heida cost?
If you value high quality wines and unforgettable moments of pleasure in the glass, you should expect to pay between CHF 20.00 and CHF 30.00 for a bottle of good Heida wine. 
History and cultivation
As Heida, the grape variety first mentioned in documents in the middle of the 16th century in the Varen region of the Upper Valais is one of the traditional grape varieties. The names “Heyda” and “Rÿebe” can also be found in the decision of the Visp Council of Ten at the end of November 1586. The latter term “Rÿebe” stands for the lower part of the vineyard of Visperterminen, which is still called Riebe today. However, according to archaeological excavations, the Celts are said to have chosen the sun-exposed mountain location around Visperterminen for viticulture around 6000 years ago.
Modern developments
Starting in the Upper Valais, where it is fair to say that Heida has been the flagship of the mountain village of Visperterminen for many years, the Heida grape variety is now also enjoying steadily increasing popularity among winegrowers in the Lower Valais. While the focus in the Upper Valais is still on opulence and structure in the wine, which results in an extremely powerful Heida, the winegrowers in the heart of the Valais focus primarily on the combination of structuring acidity and beautiful aromas. The perfect interplay of these two elements brings a sophistication to the glass that does the Heida proud. As a result, the Heida grape variety has now firmly established itself in the top sunny locations along the Rhone. The three-time best Swiss winemaker of 2018, 2011 and 2007 grows his Heida on the best, sun-facing, clay-rich vineyards at an altitude of 750 m above sea level between Turtmann in the Upper Rhone. altitude between Turtmann in the Upper Valais and Venthône above Sierre in the Lower Valais. 
Dishes to go with Heida
Heida is an excellent accompaniment to poultry and Asian dishes. But lovers of freshwater fish, seafood, crustaceans and shellfish, mussels and oysters need not miss out on the gourmet refiner Heida. And those who enjoy matured alpine cheese will also be able to celebrate unforgettable flights of fancy with Heida from Mathier. Our very special Valais insider tip: vineyard snails in a strong herb butter sauce with Heida Les Pyramides AOC Valais. Many a die-hard Valaisan swears by Heida as a flavor enhancer not only for alpine cheese, but also for a fine Valais raclette. 
Worth knowing: What goes well with Heida wine?
What many wine lovers don’t know is that Heida is a true all-rounder. From freshwater fish, seafood and poultry to Asian dishes, cheese or vineyard snails – with a Heida, you will always hit the spot with your guests in terms of taste. 
Storage and ageing
As a general rule, you should also store Heida wines in a dark place at a cool, constant temperature. You can find out how to store wines properly at home in our blog post “Storing wine made easy”. The Heida white wines from the Adrian Diego Mathier Nouveau Salquenen wine cellar can be enjoyed straight from the bottle. If you can keep your anticipation of enjoyment in check in favor of finesse-rich Heida wines, you are welcome to cellar the Heida wines for up to five years after the grape harvest. And exceptionally good vintages of a Heida white wine even have a storage potential of 20, some even up to 30 years. 
