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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Monochrome 2021 North by Northwest Gewürztraminer (California)
California OtherThe floral character of Gewürztraminer is on full display on the nose ...See Full Review$45 -
Handley 2021 Estate Vineyard Gewürztraminer (Anderson Valley)
Mendocino CountyTextbook Gewürtz aromas waft immediately out of the glass—rose water, rose petals, ...See Full Review$38 -
Bradley 2021 Eins Zwei Drei Estate Gewürztraminer (Elkton Oregon)
Southern OregonThis superb Gewürztraminer offers an exotic aromatic set of roasted pork shoulder, ...Editors’ ChoiceSee Full Review$21 -
Day 2021 Vin de Days l'Orange White (Willamette Valley)
Willamette ValleyThis is the extended-skin-contact gem to change the minds of orange-wine haters ...Editors’ ChoiceSee Full Review$25 -
Sass 2020 Catharina White (Oregon)
Oregon OtherA captivating blend of Pinot Blanc (45%), Gewürztraminer (44%) and Riesling (11%) ...See Full Review$24 -
Boundary Breaks 2020 Grand Gewürztraminer (Finger Lakes)
Finger LakesA perfume of lemon ginger tea, melted butter and pineapple cake—with a ...See Full Review$80 -
Domaine Schoffit 2018 Clos Saint-Théobald Grand Cru Vendages Tardives Gewurztraminer (Alsace)
AlsaceLychee and pear meet dill and petrol on the nose of this ...Editors’ ChoiceSee Full Review$60 -
Christophe Mittnacht 2019 Gewurztraminer (Alsace)
AlsaceLychee aromas are gentle on the nose, backed by a waft of ...See Full Review$26 -
Pierre Sparr 2020 Grande Réserve Gewurztraminer (Alsace)
AlsaceVery ripe pineapple and lychee aromas bound out of the glass, backed ...See Full Review$21 -
Bouchaine 2020 Estate Selection Gewürztraminer (Carneros-Napa Valley)
NapaVery aromatic, this fruit-bowl of a wine exudes honeysuckle and orange blossoms ...See Full Review$40 -
Handley 2021 Estate Gewürztraminer (California)
California OtherThe smooth, glycerin mouthfeel of this wine welcomes the palate, along with ...See Full Review$28 -
Mure 2020 Orchidées Sauvages Gewurztraminer (Alsace)
AlsaceSteely citrus aromas hint at pineapple and Necco Wafers. The slightly sweet ...See Full Review$22 -
Willm 2018 Kirchberg de Barr Grand Cru Gewurztraminer (Alsace)
AlsacePetrol characteristics overtake mild lychee and rambutan notes, and sweetness and acidity ...See Full Review$22 -
Joseph Cattin 2021 Gewurztraminer (Alsace)
AlsaceIf you close your eyes and nose this wine, you'd be forgiven ...See Full Review$22 -
Joseph Cattin 2021 Sauvage Gewurztraminer (Alsace)
AlsaceAn unexpected combination of white grapefruit, apple seed, honeysuckle and grass makes ...See Full Review$24 -
Quinta Vale de Fornos 2019 Arinto-Chardonnay-Gewürztraminer Reserva White (Tejo)
PortugalQuite how this eclectic blend came together is a story, but it ...See Full ReviewN/A -
Domaine Specht 2019 Gewurztraminer (Alsace)
AlsaceClassic lychee and dill scents are bolstered by an aroma of milk ...See Full Review$20 -
Joseph Cattin 2020 Hatschbourg Grand Cru Gewurztraminer (Alsace)
AlsacePotent lychee and gardenia aromas are balanced by an incredibly fresh whiff ...See Full Review$30 -
Union Sacre 2021 Edelzwicker White (Central Coast)
Central CoastThis fascinating bottling translates to “noble blend” and has been used in ...Editors’ ChoiceSee Full Review$22 -
Domaine Zind-Humbrecht 2020 Gewurztraminer (Alsace)
AlsaceExpected lychee notes get a pleasant lemon zest lift on the nose. ...See Full Review$29
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