Gewürztraminer
Gewürztraminer is a white grape that produces its most famous aromatic expressions in the Alsace region of France. Although Gewürztraminer is technically a white grape, the berries are deeply pink-hued on the vine and the resulting juice is often rich gold, owing to their highly pigmented skin and juice.
This early-budding grape is extremely susceptible to frost and prefers dry, warm summers. In warm climates, it loses its acidity and the resulting wines can be unbalanced, with too much sugar overtaking the wines.
Gewürztraminer vines are also easily felled by disease and dislike chalky soils, which makes them suitable for very particular microclimates. Crop-thinning and vineyard management are necessary with this grape that is considered by winemakers to be among the more fickle.
Another problem often encountered with Gewürztraminer is yield. The grape has been known to present a challenge in this area, and a failure to thin the crop often leads to diluted flavors that do not adequately reflect the grapes’ unique and complex flavors
A highly aromatic grape with a particularly strong flavor profile, Gewürztraminer is often identified by lychee and stone-fruit aromas and flavors. Rose, passion fruit and white and pink flowers are also often present on the nose and palate.
France
While the grape’s name is German for “perfumed Traminer,” the grape is related to Termainer of northern Italy and Savagnin Blanc of the Jura in France. In Alsace, Gewurztraminer (spelled here without the German umlaut) is the second most-planted grape variety. Stylistically, this grape can be vinified dry or sweet. Because the grape is naturally high in sugar, it is often used in the production of the region’s notable vendage tardive (late harvest) and Sélection de Grains Nobles sweet wines.
Germany
While the grape’s origins are rooted in France, Gewürztraminer has found a second home in the winegrowing regions of Germany, particularly in Pfalz, Rheinhessen and Baden. Due to the grape’s yellow-reddish color, it is also commonly known as Roter (red) or Gelber (yellow) Traminer. German Gewürztraminer is often produced in a high-quality, dry style, although sweeter versions do exist as well.
North America
While the grape is still coming into its own in the United States, it has had some success in areas like Sonoma, California, the Snake River region of Idaho, Michigan, as well as Long Island and the Finger Lakes regions of New York. Canadian winemakers have had some success with the grape on Vancouver Island, in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, on the Niagara Peninsula, and elsewhere.
Global Production
In addition to Alsace, this grape variety is widespread in Europe. Gewürztraminer is grown in Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Macedonia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Luxembourg and Turkey. The grape also grows in the Golan Heights in the Middle East.
In the New World, the grape has success in cool-climate New Zealand, as well as the Mendoza region of Argentina and the southern reaches of Chile. In Australia, Gewürztraminer is grown in some of the cooler winegrowing regions of the country, like Eden Valley, Adelaide Hills, Clare Valley, Yarra Valley and Tasmania.
Synonyms: Auvernas Rouge, Blanc Brun, Blanc Court, Bon Blanc, Christkindeltraube, Christkindlestraube, Clevener, Clevner, Crevena Ruziva, Crovena Ruzica, Dišeči Traminec, Dreimaenner, Dreimannen, Dreipfennigholz, Drumin, Drumin Ljbora, Duret Rouge, Edeltraube, Fermentin Rouge, Fleischroth, Fleischweiner, Formentin Rouge, Fourmenteau Rouge, Frencher, Fromente, Fromenteau, Fűszeres, Fűszeres Tramini, Gentil Rose Aromatique, Gentil-Duret Rouge, Gentile Rlanc, Gertie, Gewuerztraminer, Gringet, Gris Rouge, Haiden, Kirmizi Traminer, Klaebinger, Klaevner, Kleinbraun, Kleinwiener, Livora, Livora Cervena, Mala Dinka, Marzimmer, Mirisavi Traminac, Nature, Nature Rose, Noble Rose, Nuernberger Rot, Pinat Cervena, Piros Tramini, Plant Paien, Princ Cerveny, Princt Cervena, Princt Cerveny, Ranfoliza, Rosentraminer, Rotclevner, Rotedel, Roter Nuerberger, Roter Nuernberger, Roter Traminer, Rotfranken, Rothklauser, Rothweiner, Rothwiener, Rotklaevler, Rotklaevner, Rotklevner, Rousselet, Runziva, Rusa, Ruska, Ryvola, Salvagnin, Sauvagnin, Savagnin, Savagnin Jaune, Savagnin Rosa Aromatique, Savagnin Rose, Savagnin Rose Aromatique, Savagnin Rose Musque, St. Klauser, Termeno Aromatico, Tramin Korenny, Traminac, Traminac Crveni, Traminac Dišeći, Traminac Mirisavi, Traminac Mirisavi Crveni, Traminac Sivi, Traminec, Traminer, Traminer Aromatico, Traminer Epice, Traminer Musque, Traminer Parfume, Traminer Rosa, Traminer Rose Aromatique, Traminer Rot, Traminer Rozovyi, Tramini Piros, Trammener
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David Hill 2020 Estate Gewürztraminer (Tualatin Hills)
Willamette ValleyThis wine was aged in Australian oval cask. The aromas seem reduced ...See Full Review$25 -
Boundary Breaks 2020 Glitz Bubbly Gewürztraminer (Seneca Lake)
Finger LakesThis unique sparkling Gewürztraminer kicks off with boisterous aromas of white grapefruit, ...See Full Review$20 -
Liberty Lake 2020 Reserve Gewürztraminer (Red Mountain)
Columbia ValleyWhite wines are an extreme rarity on Red Mountain. Fruit for this ...See Full Review$22 -
Two Vintners 2020 O.G. Extended Maceration Olsen Vineyard Gewürztraminer (Yakima Valley)
Columbia ValleyWinemaker Morgan Lee says he wants this wine to be “weird,” and ...See Full Review$30 -
Castello di Amorosa 2019 Late Harvest Gewurztraminer (Anderson Valley)
Mendocino CountyDripping with honey, apricot and poached pear flavors, this luscious and extremely ...Cellar SelectionSee Full Review$45 -
Domaine Barmès-Buecher 2019 Hengst Grand Cru Gewurztraminer (Alsace)
AlsaceLemon verbena and lychee on the nose of this wine lead into ...See Full Review$48 -
La Petite Mort 2020 Gentil Qvevri White (Granite Belt)
QueenslandA blend of Gewürztraminer and Muscat, this wine receives 151 days on ...Editors’ ChoiceSee Full Review$43 -
Domaine Charles Baur 2018 Pfersigberg Grand Cru Gewurztraminer (Alsace)
AlsaceLychee fragrance carries a hint of aloe, for a tropical feel. This ...See Full Review$36 -
Castello di Amorosa 2020 Dolcino Gewurztraminer (Anderson Valley)
Mendocino CountyThis semisweet wine has amazing floral and fruit-basket aromas, and rich and ...Editors’ ChoiceSee Full Review$29 -
Navarro 2020 Estate Bottled Dry Gewurztraminer (Anderson Valley)
Mendocino CountyHeady aromas of rose petals and lychee lead to rich, vibrant peach, ...Editors’ ChoiceSee Full Review$24 -
Domaine Barmès-Buecher 2019 Steingrubler Grand Cru Gewurztraminer (Alsace)
AlsaceClassic and saturated lychee aromas pop out of the glass and soak ...Editors’ ChoiceSee Full Review$42 -
Domaine Charles Baur 2019 Gewurztraminer (Alsace)
AlsacePineapple, lychee and dill aromas float sweetly out of the glass. On ...See Full Review$29 -
Domaine Charles Baur 2018 Eichberg Grand Cru Gewurztraminer (Alsace)
AlsacePetrol and cedar are invitingly savory on the nose of this wine. ...See Full Review$36 -
Goldeneye 2020 Confluence Vineyard Randolph Block Gewürztraminer (Anderson Valley)
Mendocino CountyThis technically light-bodied, aromatic, dry wine offers a generous texture and tempting ...See Full Review$40 -
The Furst... 2019 Gewurztraminer (Alsace)
AlsaceThis wine is shy and delicate on the nose, with a bit ...Editors’ ChoiceSee Full Review$21 -
Handley 2020 Estate Vineyard Gewürztraminer (Anderson Valley)
Mendocino CountyAttractive rose-petal and lychee-fruit aromas lead to a dry, flavorful and floral ...See Full Review$26 -
Sheldrake Point 2019 Estate Bottled Gewürztraminer (Finger Lakes)
Finger LakesThis tasty white checks all the boxes of a hallmark Gewürz: lychee, ...See Full Review$18 -
Philippe Sohler 2019 Cuvée Marine Gewurztraminer (Alsace)
AlsaceMustard blossom and red licorice aromas are unexpected, but sophisticated. The palate ...See Full Review$22 -
Allimant-Laugner 2019 Gewurztraminer (Alsace)
AlsaceA surprising hit of camphor complements pear and petrol on a lively ...See Full Review$20 -
Carlson Vineyards 2019 Laughing Cat Gewurztraminer (Grand Valley)
ColoradoLemon oil and white grapefruit are among the prominent scents. This is ...See Full Review$15
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