If you appreciate exuberant wines with exotic flavors, Gewurztraminer is very likely made for you! A key grape variety of the Alsace vineyard, it is all too often limited to the sole image of a sweet wine. However, this variety has much more to offer us...
Where does Gewurztraminer originate from? What types of wine can it produce? What should you expect during tasting? Which dishes should it be paired with?
So many questions that you will find answers to in this article!
Origins and cultivation of Gewurztraminer
Gewurztraminer is none other than the pink and aromatic variety of Savagnin blanc, a grape variety now very present in the Jura and notably used to produce the famous Vin Jaune. It is also the direct descendant of an ancient grape variety from the Middle Ages: Traminer rose (or Savagnin rose). The two varieties were long confused, as their characteristics are quite similar, except for a more aromatic character in Gewurztraminer.
Etymologically, the word "Gewurztraminer" is split into two parts: Gewürz meaning "spice" and Traminer, referring to the town of Tramin located in South Tyrol (or Alto Adige), in the northeast of Italy. Because yes, despite its Germanic-sounding name, it is indeed from this Italian province (where German is spoken) that the grape variety is believed to originate!
The cold climate of this region is quite similar to that of Germany and Alsace, so Gewurztraminer later spread to these areas with great results. Moreover, it was only during the 19th century that the people of Alsace gave it its current name.
Thus, while Gewurzt' already had a significant presence in Alsace at the beginning of the 16th century, it was only from 1870 onwards that it began to develop there in a significant way. Today, it represents 2,500 hectares, or 16% of the vineyard, and is the second most widespread variety in the region after Riesling.
Outside of Alsace, Gewurztraminer is very scarcely present in the rest of the French vineyard. There are only about a hundred hectares in the Languedoc and just a handful in the Loire.
Finally, on a global scale, it represents 14,000 hectares and is notably present in Germany (about 800 hectares), Italy, Austria, Switzerland, as well as New Zealand and California.
The types of Gewurztraminer wine
Because of its great aromatic richness, Gewurzt' is often identified as a sweet wine. Nevertheless, let it be said, the majority of wines from this grape variety are dry white wines, meaning they contain at most 4g/L of residual sugar (which is only 3g in a bottle).
However, this grape variety is extraordinary in that it also allows the production of off-dry wines (4 to 12g/L of residual sugar), medium-sweet (between 12 and 45g/L) as well as sweet (more than 45g/L).
In Alsace, the terms Vendanges Tardives (VT) and Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN) both refer to medium-sweet and sweet wines:
- For Vendanges Tardives, the grapes are harvested overripe so that they are full of sugar (at least 257g/L at harvest... and therefore before fermentation, of course).
- For Sélection de Grains Nobles, this is also the case but the berries must here be botrytized (noble rot) and have an even higher sugar concentration (at least 306g/L at harvest!). As a reminder, botrytis is a microscopic fungus that cracks the skin of the grapes, leading to evaporation of water and concentration of sugars and acids in the berries.
So, as you will have understood, Gewurzt' is capable of offering very different white wines in terms of sweetness, and consequently in terms of aromatics.
The aromas of Gewurztraminer
No matter the level of sweetness, Gewurztraminer-based wines have in common a great
Thus, its common markers are notes of exotic fruits (lychee, mango, pineapple), stone fruit aromas (peach, apricot) but also a floral touch (rose, geranium). Finally, Gewurzt' regularly features spicy flavors (cinnamon, gingerbread, clove, etc.).
For a medium-sweet or sweet Gewurztraminer, other fragrances may appear such as honey, candied fruits, mirabelle plum, or even date. In the case of a Sélection de Grains Nobles, mushroom (botrytis) and undergrowth aromas can even be detected!
Finally, unlike Riesling, Gewurztraminer's acidity is much more limited. As a result, its mouthfeel is often voluptuous and ample, which is also due to the high alcohol potential of the grape variety.
Which dishes to pair with Gewurztraminer ?
The great richness of Gewurztraminer allows it to adapt to a myriad of dishes and cuisines.
Thus, a dry Gewurztraminer can be perfectly enjoyed on its own as an aperitif but also with seafood, fish, and shellfish. Asian cuisines (Chinese, Thai, Japanese, etc.) also pair very well with this grape variety. For example, think of pairings with salmon sushi, Thai-style fish in banana leaf, or delicious spring rolls.
Spicy and exotic dishes pair wonderfully with medium-sweet Gewurztraminers ! So don't hesitate to open a bottle of Gewurzt' with a shrimp curry in coconut milk, cod fritters, or even a sea bream ceviche with mango... a real treat! Foie gras is also a superb possible pairing, as are certain cheeses such as Roquefort, Munster or Maroilles.
Finally, favor sweet Gewurztraminers with desserts. Fruit tarts, mango charlotte, or chocolate cake will be perfect allies here.
Regarding serving temperature, a dry, medium-sweet, or sweet Gewurztraminer is ideally enjoyed between 8-10°C. If served too cold, the grape's great expressiveness would be diminished. If served too warm, an unpleasant heaviness could emerge, particularly in the case of medium-sweet and sweet wines.
The best Gewurztraminers
Although it is difficult to provide an exhaustive list of the best Gewurztraminers,
- Domaine Mittnacht Frères - Alsace - Medium-sweet Gewurztraminer Les Terres blanches
- Domaine Boehler - Alsace - Medium-sweet Gewurztraminer Saint-Georges
- Domaine Barmès-Buecher - Alsace Grand Cru - Sweet Gewurztraminer Steingrubler
You are now an expert in Gewurztraminer, all that remains is for you to enjoy its beautiful
