Gewürztraminer
Gewürztraminer is most commonly found in the Alsace region of France, where it’s believed to have originated, and is the second most planted grape variety in the region today. It’s actually a pink, more aromatic version of its close relative Traminer (or Sauvignon Blanc as it’s more commonly known). Better suited to cooler climates, Gewürztraminer is quite a fussy variety that can easily go wrong with anything less than quality winegrowing. Harvesting the grapes requires a delicate balancing act between picking early enough to preserve acidity, and allowing the grapes enough time-on-the-vine to develop the incredible floral aromas they’re renowned for. When done right, you get a wonderfully food-friendly wine full of sweet notes and flavours.
Gewürztraminer Tasting Notes
Rose
Cinnamon
Lychee
Grapefruit
Ginger
Sweet, floral aromatics are the most treasured characteristic of a Gewürztraminer. On the nose, you could easily imagine yourself on a bed of roses, though it can also incorporate additional notes of cinnamon and smoke. On the palate, flavours of lychee, apricot and grapefruit tend to be quite prominent along with a ginger-like spice, while riper versions start to show flavours of pineapple and other tropical fruits. When noble rot comes into play, honey and dried fruit flavours come to the forefront and make for some seriously good dessert wines!
Gewürztraminer Wine Style
Aromatic White Wine
Dry SweetGewürztraminer wine is abundantly fruity, typically medium bodied and quite low tannin. Its sweet, floral aromatics capitalise on the low acidity to give the perception of a slightly sweeter taste, while the high alcohol content helps to maintain a ‘serious wine’ feel. The pink skin of the grape helps to give the resulting wine a wonderfully deep golden colour.
Wine Regions
France
USA
Germany
Australia
Italy
In comparison to most other grape varieties, there really isn’t much Gewürztraminer being grown around the world. The cool and ideal growing conditions in the foothills of the Alps help the variety to flourish in many of the Alpine countries. Alsace, France is the leading producer by quite some way, producing some excellent less-sweet examples of world-renowned quality. Significant plantings are also found in Italy, Germany, Austria and Hungary, while New World examples of Gewürztraminer are scarcer. Only the likes of Clare Valley in Australia and cooler parts of California have cool enough climates for this fast ripening grape to be able to fully develop its famous lychee and rose petal aromas.
What Food Goes with Gewürztraminer?
One of the best things about Gewürztraminer is that it really is a food wine – especially the more fragrant, full-bodied versions. It generally pairs better with slightly exotic food, particularly middle-eastern and Moroccan cuisine. This is primarily due to its sweet floral aromatics and full-body, so next time you get the urge for a warm, mild curry make Gewürztraminer your first port of call. Other pairing options include Thai food, duck and ginger-infused dishes.
