Gewürztraminer may not be as well known as some of the other noble grapes, but it seriously delivers on flavour. Sometimes called the grown-up version of Moscato, this grape variety has higher alcohol, more striking aromatics and lower acidity, making it harder to slurp down. Gewürztraminer’s tell-tale aromatics give it a clear ‘tell‘ in a blind tasting with its iconic lychee aroma. In this Gewürztraminer wine guide, we’ll dive into this grape that has thrived for centuries.
Gewürztraminer wine guide
Gewürztraminer is renowned for its intense aromatics of lychee and floral rose alongside its pink skin and has thrived for centuries around Germany. However, it is best known for being part of the famous Alsace region where the majority of plantings lie. Today, it has started to gain popularity in the new world of wine, particularly in the US. It is also gaining popularity in Australia, sometimes being fondly known as Traminer.
Origin of Gewürztraminer
Although Gewürztraminer sounds like it should have originated in Germany, it is believed it originated in Italy. Gewürztraminer thrives in cool climates which means it does well on the foothills of the alps where it is grown. The name translates to “Spice traminer”. Traminer is another name for Sauvignon Blanc which the grape is genetically linked to. The original grape is known to have been heavily cultivated in Tramin, an Italian town with heavy German influence as early as 1000 AD, making its way across the Rhine before making it to the French region of Alsace by 1870.
Today the grape is grown in Germany, but also across the alps including Italy, Hungary, Romania, Croatia, France and Slovenia.
The flavour profile of Gewürztraminer
Gewürztraminer is an aromatic grape like Muscat, Riesling and Torrontes, and may appear sweeter than it is due to its heightened aromatics, higher alcohol and lower acidity. Most Gewürztraminer is off-dry or semi-dry with medium to full body.
Gewürztraminer has lovely aromatics of lychee, rose petals and spice (with ginger in particular). Lighter variations can have grapefruit notes, and late-harvest wines can also have a distinct pineapple note.
Where you’ll find Gewürztraminer
Did you know that for every vine of Gewürztraminer, there are 30 vines of Cabernet Sauvignon and 4 vines of Riesling planted worldwide?
There are only about 20,000 acres of Gewürztraminer planted worldwide, with most of it in Alsace where Gewürztraminer is one of the 4 Grand Cru grapes along with Riesling, Pinot Gris and Muscat. It is the only variety that can be used for grand cru (single varietal), Vendanges Tardives (late harvest wine) and Sélection de Graines Nobles (sweet wines from botrytis affective grapes) wines.
What to pair with Gewürztraminer
Gewürztraminer has a range of sweetness levels which means it has plenty of options for pairing with food. Drier styles are perfect with spicy food and Thai or Indian curries. It would also go beautifully with a Moroccan tagine. It also goes nicely with white meat and seafood.
Sweeter styles can be paired with cheese, dried fruits or nuts. Even desserts with dried fruits and nuts along with spice and honey would be perfectly paired alongside Gewürztraminer.
Summary: Gewürztraminer wine guide
When it comes to Gewürztraminer there is a rich history and a bit of confusion. With so much German influence, you wouldn’t expect this grape to have originated in Italy, and gained popularity in France. But Gewürztraminer with its aromatic notes and distinctive flavours stands out from the crowd. Despite low plantings worldwide, it’s definitely worth checking out! I hope this Gewürztraminer wine guide has inspired you to look out for it.