What kind of wine is Gewürztraminer?
Gewürztraminer is one of the most famous white wines from South Tyrol.
The meaning of Gewürztraminer is literally “spicy Traminer,” a name that confirms both the aromatic characteristics of this wine (Gewürz means spicy, fragrant) and its origin in Termeno (Traminer in German), in South Tyrol.
In reality, the origin of Gewürztraminer is highly dubious, because France also claims its paternity, citing similarities with Savagnin, a grape from the Jura region used to produce vin jaune.
On the other hand, this aromatic grape reaches extraordinary levels of opulence and elegance in France, in Alsace to be precise.
Alsatian Gewürztraminers
Alsatian Gewürztraminer wines are among the most intense on the nose and palate that France has to offer, true cornucopias of abundance, capable of holding their own with very structured dishes. It is in this region that you can taste the best Gewürztraminers from “Sélection de Grain Nobles” (literally “selection of noble grapes”), produced from grapes affected by Botrytis Cinerea, the so-called noble rot. These are wines with a good sugar content, mitigated on the palate by acidity, which balances the taste in a harmonious way.
South Tyrol and the rest of the world
In addition to South Tyrol and Alsace, Gewürztraminer white wine is also produced in Trentino, Germany (in the German part of the Rhine Valley), overseas in the United States, where Gewürztraminer is one of the wines of California, Washington, and Oregon, and then in New Zealand, Argentina, and Chile, where unusual interpretations of this multifaceted white wine triumph.
The organoleptic and ampelographic characteristics of Gewürztraminer
An aromatic wine par excellence, Gewürztraminer is the symbol of South Tyrolean viticulture.
Difficult to cultivate because even a few disturbing elements are enough to compromise its yield, it is found mainly in northern Italy, between Trentino-Alto Adige and Friuli-Venezia Giulia (the same as Müller-Thurgau), in a mountainous landscape dominated by clayey and calcareous soils particularly suited to the production of these grapes (the finest are found in the area between Lavis and Cambra, which produce the best Gewürztraminer).
Its grapes are sweet and thick-skinned; the color of this white wine is straw yellow with golden reflections and hints of spices and candied fruit, and the taste is traditionally sweet and aromatic. We are in the territory of noble and multifaceted wines:
at the first sip, you will be intoxicated by an explosion of fragrances, and your nose will be amazed by its intense aromas evoking rose petals, lychees, and exotic fruits.
On the palate, it is dense and full-bodied, while the aromatic bouquet is fruity and lively, enriched with spices ranging from cloves to pepper and gingerbread, but also rose petals and tropical fruits.
Characteristics of the grape variety
The Gewürztraminer grape variety is characterized by small, rounded, pentagonal leaves. The grape bunches are also rather small and moderately compact, while the berries are elongated, with a thick skin whose colors can vary from pink-gray to reddish-brown; the pulp, on the other hand, gives it its traditional aromatic flavor.
It is a wine destined to mature slowly, with harvesting beginning in early September.
The difference between Gewürztraminer and Traminer
The former is therefore a sumptuous, explosive wine that can reach 15 degrees, recognizable with your eyes closed, but not to be confused with its progenitor Traminer, which has a less pronounced aromatic quality.
What are the best Gewürztraminers?
The best Gewürztraminers tend to have one thing in common:
the ability to balance their aromatic richness with a structure that makes them persistent and memorable. Whether they are dry wines that explode with notes of exotic fruit and rose petals, or sweet wines that seduce the palate with their opulent sweetness. In short, the best Gewürztraminers are those that remain faithful to the authentic expression of the grape variety and reflect the unique terroirs from which they come.
In Alsace, the French homeland of Gewürztraminer, wines often reach inimitable levels of excellence. Here we find historic producers such as Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, which, with its Grand Cru parcels such as Rangen de Thann or Hengst, creates Gewürztraminers of extraordinary intensity and longevity.
In Italy, South Tyrol is the region that stands out for its Gewürztraminers of great character. It produces Gewürztraminer Nussbaumer, one of the most appreciated examples of this variety, rich in aromas and with a structure that makes it unforgettable.
Vinified alone or together with other grape varieties, it gives rise to some of the most prestigious Italian DOC wines, such as “Friuli Aquileia DOC” (Friuli Aquileia Traminer aromatico superiore), “Trentino DOC” (Trentino Traminer aromatico), “Friuli Grave DOC” (Friuli Grave aromatic Traminer), “Colli Orientali del Friuli DOC” (Colli Orientali del Friuli aromatic Traminer), “Carso Traminer DOC” (Carso Traminer), “Friuli Isonzo, or Isonzo del Friuli DOC” (Friuli Isonzo aromatic Traminer), “Friuli Annia Doc” (Friuli Annia aromatic Traminer), “Friuli Latisana Doc” (Friuli Latisana aromatic Traminer), “Alto Adige Doc” (Alto Adige aromatic Traminer), “Collio Goriziano or Collio Doc” (Collio Goriziano aromatic Traminer).
What to pair Gewürztraminer with?
Alsace wines are recommended with both strong cheeses, such as Munster, and foie gras, and in general with all dishes containing eggs, while South Tyrolean Gewürztraminers can accompany everything from appetizers to fish main courses (especially steamed, grilled, raw or marinated shellfish), even oriental cuisine.
Unlike many white wines, it does not go well with particularly delicate dishes, due to its structure and alcohol content, which make it unsuitable for this combination of flavors. However, the intensity and complexity of its aromatic bouquet make it a perfect white wine for Thai and Japanese cuisine: from Cantonese rice to sushi, there is no better pairing than a glass of fresh, aromatic, and well-balanced Gewürztraminer.
It also goes well with duck ravioli, especially if it has a good sugar residue, or smoked foods such as speck, carne salada, and mortàndela from the Val di Non; not to be underestimated is the pairing with white pizzas with cheese and truffles.
Desserts are a chapter apart: cheesecake, tarts, pastiere, and apple strudel go perfectly with the fruity aftertaste of Gewürztraminer.
