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 sweet wine. However, this variety has much more to offer us...
Where does Gewurztraminer come from? What types of wine can it produce? What should you expect during a tasting? Which dishes should it be paired with?
All these questions will be answered in this article!
Summary
Origins and cultivation of Gewurztraminer
Gewurztraminer is simply the pink and aromatic variety of Savagnin blanc, a grape variety that is now very common in the Jura and is notably used to produce the famous Vin Jaune.This is also the direct descendant of an ancient grape variety from the Middle Ages: the Traminer rose (or Savagnin rose). The two varieties were in fact long confused, as their characteristics are quite similar, except for a more aromatic character in Gewurztraminer.
Etymologically, the word "Gewurztraminer" is divided 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. Indeed, despite its Germanic-sounding name, it is actually from this Italian province (where German is spoken) that the grape variety is believed to have originated!
The cold climate of this region is quite similar to that of Germany and Alsace, so Gewurztraminer later spread to these areas with great success. 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 Alsace, Gewurztraminer is very scarcely present in the rest of the French vineyard. There are only about a hundred hectares in the Languedoc as well as a handful in the Loire.
Finally, on a global scale, it represents 14,000 hectares and is notably present in Germany (around 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, that is to say, containing at most 4g/L of residual sugars (which is only 3g in a bottle).
However, this grape variety is remarkable in that it also allows the production of wines off-dry (4 to 12g/L of residual sugars), sweet (between 12 and 45g/L) as well as dessert wines (more than 45g/L).
In Alsace, the terms Late Harvest (VT) and Selection of Noble Berries (SGN) both refer to sweet and dessert wines:
- For Late Harvest wines, the grapes are harvested overripe so that they are full of sugars (at least 257g/L at the time of harvest... and therefore before fermentation, of course).
- For the Selection of Noble Berries, this is also the case, but here the berries must be affected by botrytis (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 a 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 aroma.
The aromas of Gewurztraminer
No matter the level of sweetness, wines made from Gewurztraminer share the characteristic of great richness and beautiful aromatic exuberance. In fact, more than 500 aromatic molecules have been detected in this grape variety!
Thus, the common markers of this variety are notes of exotic fruits (lychee, mango, pineapple), stone fruit aromas (peach, apricot) but also a floral touch (rose, geranium). Finally, Gewurztraminer often features spicy flavors (cinnamon, gingerbread, clove, etc.).
For a sweet or luscious Gewurztraminer, other fragrances may appear such as honey, candied fruits, mirabelle plum, or even date. In the case of a Selection of Noble Berries, aromas of mushroom (botrytis) and undergrowth may even be detected!
Finally, unlike Riesling, the acidity of Gewurztraminer is much more limited. As a result, its texture on the palate 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 well with 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 delight! Foie gras is also a superb possible pairing, just like certain cheeses such as Roquefort, Munster or Maroilles.
Finally, opt for sweet Gewurztraminers with desserts. Fruit tarts, mango charlotte, or chocolate cake will be perfect partners here.
Regarding serving temperature, a dry, semi-sweet, or sweet Gewurztraminer is ideally enjoyed between 8-10°C. If served too cold, the grape variety’s great expressiveness would be diminished. If served at too high a temperature, an unpleasant heaviness could develop, especially in the case of semi-sweet and sweet wines.
The best Gewurztraminers
Although it is difficult to provide an exhaustive list of the best Gewurztraminers, La Cave Éclairée offers you here a fine selection of this grape variety exclusively from Alsace. From delightful Gewurztraminer to exceptional aged wines, there is something for every taste and budget !
- Domaine Mittnacht Frères - Alsace - Sweet Gewurztraminer Les Terres blanches
- Domaine Boehler - Alsace - Sweet Gewurztraminer Saint-Georges
- Domaine Barmès-Buecher - Alsace Grand Cru - Sweet Gewurztraminer Steingrubler
You are now an expert on Gewurztraminer, all that’s left is to enjoy its wonderful indulgentise! Cheers!
