The complete guide to the Gewurztraminer grape variety

If you appreciate exuberant wines with exotic flavors, Gewurztraminer is most likely for you! A key grape variety of the Alsace vineyard, it is often limited to the sole image of sweet wine. However, this variety  has much more to offer us...

Where is the Gewurztraminer originally from? What types of wine can it produce? What to expect in tasting? With which dishes should it be paired?

All these questions will be answered in this article!

Origins and cultivation of  Gewurztraminer

The 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 in the production of the famous Vin jaune. It is also the direct descendant of an ancient grape variety from the Middle Ages: the Traminer rose (or Savagnin rose).The two varieties have long been confused, as their characteristics are essentially the same, except for a more aromatic character in the 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, this grape variety is believed to originate from this Italian province (where German is spoken)! 

The cold climate of this region is quite similar to that of Germany and Alsace, and the Gewurztraminer subsequently spread to these areas with great success. Moreover, it was only during the 19th century that the Alsatians gave it its current name. Thus, while the Gewurzt' already had a significant presence in Alsace at the beginning of the 16th century, it was only from 1870 that it began to develop significantly there. 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 a small 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 (approximately 800 hectares), Italy, Austria, Switzerland, as well as New Zealand and California. 

The types of Gewurztraminer wine

Due to its great aromatic richness , Gewurztraminer is often identified as a sweet wine. However, 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 sugars (or only 3g in a bottle).

However, this grape variety is extraordinary in that it also allows the production of wines  that are off-dry (4 to 12g/L of residual sugars), 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 when 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 Sélection de Grains Nobles, this is also the case, but the berries must be botrytized (noble rot) and have an even higher sugar concentration (at least 306g/L at the time of harvest!). As a reminder, botrytis is a microscopic fungus that cracks the skin of the grapes, leading to the evaporation of water and a concentration of sugars and acids in the berries.

So, 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 common characteristic of great indulgence and beautiful aromatic exuberance. More than 500 aromatic molecules have indeed been detected in the 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 regularly features spicy flavors (cinnamon, gingerbread, clove, etc.).

For a sweet or liqueur-like Gewurztraminer, other fragrances may appear such as honey, candied fruits, mirabelle plum, or even date. In the case of a Selection of Noble Grains, aromas of mushroom (botrytis) and undergrowth can even be detected!

Finally, unlike Riesling, the acidity of Gewurztraminer is much more limited. As a result, its texture in the mouth is often voluptuous and ample, which is also due to the high alcoholic potential of the grape variety. 

What 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 alone 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, one might consider pairings with salmon sushi, Thai-style fish in banana leaf, or delicious spring rolls.

Spicy and exotic dishes pair wonderfully 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! The foie gras is also a superb possible pairing, just like certain cheeses such as   Roquefort,   Munster   or   Maroilles .