A Tour of Wine Grapes: Gewurztraminer

Gewürztraminer

Gewürztraminer (guh-VURZT-tra-mee-ner) has been around for centuries in Europe and prized for its wines with intense floral aromas.

Its name is derived from the German word "Gewürz," meaning "spice" or "perfumed," reflecting its bold fragrance. And, the grape is a mutation of the ancient Traminer (Savagnin Blanc) variety.

Today, Gewürztraminer is grown throughout the world with Argentina and Moldova being the largest producers followed by Italy, U.S., Ukraine and Australia.

While Gewürztraminer grapes produce white wine, the grapes have distinctive pink to reddish skins. This often gives the wine a golden-copper color compared to other whites.

Gewürztraminer wines tend to be medium to low in body, low in acidity, but have a higher level of perceived sweetness even when all the sugar has been converted to alcohol through fermentation.

Aromas sometimes attributed to Gewürztraminer include soap, potpourri, or cheap perfume because of its bold floral aromas. But, most agree the aromas are most like lychee and rose petals.

Gewürztraminer is associated with flavors of grapefruit, apricot and tangerine and often has a oily or viscous mouthfeel.

Because of Gewürztraminer’s low acidity, it should be consumed young and typically only keeps for 2-5 years.

Serve Gewürztraminer ice cold (38-45 F) in a white wine glass. No decanting required.

Behind the Cork™ - Union Sacre Wines Gewurztramminer

Union Sacré Wines Gewürztramminer ($19.99)

For winemaker Xavier Arnaudin, winemaking has always been about people. He was born and raised in France and started his career not in the cellar, but in the kitchen, studying to be a chef. In 1999 he left the Rhône Valley and headed to California where he met Phillip Muzzy. They dreamed of making wine and in 2014 produced their first vintage as Union Sacré Wines co-owners.

This 2021 Union Sacré Gewürztraminer is an "orange" wine from California's Arroyo Seco appellation. It’s called an “orange” wine because the grape skins spend an extended time in contact with the juice, producing its deep golden color. In this case, the 100% Gewürztraminer grape skins were fermented with 40 days of skin contact.

This wine is a golden color with green highlights. On the nose, it has aroma of grapefruit, orange zest, honeysuckle, with hints of spice. On the palate it has soft flavors of lychee, tangerine and tropical fruit along with a hint of spice on the soft, smooth finish. The acidity is well balanced. [ABV: 12.1%]

If you have any hesitations about Gewürztraminer, this is a really nice one that won’t overwhelm you with sweetness or acidity; it’s soft and smooth. And, at this price, is a great fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

Some Thoughts About Gewurztraminer

Gewürztraminer is the name of the grape used to make Gewürztraminer wine. It originated in Germany and has spread to other wine-growing areas, especially Alsace in France, as well as parts of Italy, Austria, and even the U.S.

The grape itself is a mutation of the older Traminer variety, which dates back centuries. It’s known for its distinctive pinkish skin and aromatic qualities.

The name comes from the German words Gewürz, meaning "spice," and Traminer, referring to a variety of grape. So, it's essentially a "spicy Traminer" grape.

Gewürztraminer is best known for its aromatic, spicy, and floral notes.

Aromatics: Gewürztraminer is very aromatic. It often has intense scents of rose petals, lychee fruit, and spicy notes of ginger, cinnamon, and even hints of honey or sweet baking spices.

Flavor: The taste is slightly sweet with flavors that can range from tropical fruits (like lychee, pineapple, and passionfruit) to more floral and spiced elements (such as ginger, clove, and orange zest). It is typically a medium-body wine with a smooth, almost oily mouthfeel.

Acidity: Gewürztraminer typically has lower acidity than other white wines, making it a bit softer on the palate. The lower acidity balances the wine’s richness and fruitiness.

Regions:

  • Alsace, France: Alsace is perhaps the most famous region for Gewürztraminer, where it’s known for being a rich, aromatic, and slightly off-dry style. The cool climate in this area helps preserve the wine’s fresh flavors while allowing the grapes to ripen fully.

  • Germany: The wine produced here can be similar in style to that of France but it may a bit dryer (less residual sugar) and exhibit more minerality.

  • U.S.: In the United States, parts of California, Oregon, and Washington produce Gewürztraminer with a more fruit-forward profile, often with more tropical notes and a less pronounced spice character than those from Europe.

Gewürztraminer's bold aromatics and slight sweetness make it a fantastic match for a wide range of foods, especially dishes with some spice. So, if you're a fan of aromatic wines and enjoy something with a bit of personality and boldness, Gewürztraminer is a great choice. Cheers!