Gewürztraminer is like the grown-up version of Moscato. It's lower in acidity, has more punchy aromatics, and higher alcohol content. It's tell-tale sign is the lychee or sweet rose aroma that makes it identifiable in a blind tasting.

TASTE PROFILE

It's a pink grape & is well known for it's intense floral aromas, and a distinct lychee note. On the palate, quality wines will have notes of grapefruit, rose, ginger. Such aromatics will give it an inherently sweet flavor, even though it can be made in a dry style, similar to Muscat, Riesling, or Torrontes. 

Think exotic Middle Eastern & Moroccan cuisines which use nuts & dried fruits for pairings. Hummus anybody? What's important is to match the wine's floral & ginger notes in the dish. 

WINEMAKING REGIONS

Origins lie in the German foothills of the Alps, but has since become a popular grape amongst the countries surrounding the Alps- Italy, Hungary, Romania, Croatia, France and Slovenia, as well as other cool climate regions like those in US & New Zealand. In France, it's one of the four Grand Cru grapes in Alsace.

With only about 20,000 acres planted worldwide, it's not as commonly found as Moscato or Riesling, often made into quality dessert wine, or off-dry styles. 

ALSACE, FRANCE

The largest producer of Gewurztraminer, you'll find excellent dry or off-dry styles of Gewurztraminer, especially from it's Grand Cru plots. It typically has more minerality compared to other regions, due to the terroir of Alsace being mostly limestone soils.

WASHINGTON, USA

Outstanding Gewurztraminer comes from Washington due to it's cooler climates giving it higher acidity, but you can also find old vine pickings from the cooler Californian regions like Sonoma & Monterey.

ALTO ADIGE, ITALY

It takes up about 10% of production in the northern Alta adige region, surrounding the Alps. With similar terroir as Alsace, you'll find value for money dry to off dry styles here.

OTHER REGIONS

New Zealand, Australia, Germany & Hungary also have a decent production of Gewurtztraminer, and are usually more in the sweet styles.