Don't be intimidated by the Gewürztraminer pronunciation: It's worth muddling through the name to sample these superbly rich and excitingly dry, off-dry and sweet wines. Gewürztraminer wine is made in the cool climates of Alsace, France, as well as Germany and Austria. Gewürztraminer also thrives in cool-climate regions of New Zealand, the U.S. Pacific Northwest, California, Australia and South Africa. However, its origin is in Italy’s mountainous northeastern region of Alto Adige, where the green-to-pink-colored grapes appear to have emerged from a cross between Italy’s Traminer grape and the Pinot family.
Gewürztraminer wines are highly aromatic with a complex nose that includes flowers, lychee fruit, perfume, honey and spice, and have medium to low acidity. The combination of spice and slight sweetness make Gewürztraminer the smart diners' go-to wine for pairing with hot Asian and Caribbean foods, like stir-fries and curries.
Alsace Gewürztraminer is sometimes produced as late-harvest or vendange tardive dessert wines that pack a complex medley of sweet and exotic flavors. In Canada, it's used to make deliciously pure and sweet Icewine from frozen grapes.
Pronunciation
[Geh-VIRTZ-trah-MEE-ner]
Recommended food pairings
Spicy Asian and Caribbean entrees, roast pork, Muenster and Roquefort cheese
Serving temperature
55-57°
