Gewurztraminer

Gewurztraminer is the most typical Alsatian wine. Gewûrz means "spicy" in german. It is the main characteristic of Gewurztraminer. Traminer means "coming from Tramin", a small city in south Tyrol of Austria where the grape is coming from. Gewurztraminer is the name of a grape but also the name of the wine made from the grape!

Gewurztraminer was first grown in Alsace around the 19th century. The grapes now cover roughly 20% of the vineyards in the region. Gewurztraminer replaced a grape called Klevener or Savagnin. Nowadays klevener wines can only be found in the village of Heiligenstein and around. Klevener is a dry white wine with slight spicy flavor while less aromatic than Gewurz, it sould be drunk young.

It is obviously in Alsace where Gewurztraminer grapes give the best results. The wine is delicious, fruity and with strong aromas, a very perfumed and flowery bouquet. Gewurztraminer is sweeter than Riesling, which is a dry wine.

Thick and rich wine, which can age, Gewurztraminer is better with sauerkraut, sausages and the Alsatian cheese Munster, curry seasoned dishes, chinese and mexican cooking and other spiced dishes. A Gewurztraminer can even be served as a dessert wine.

Gewurztraminer is better when served at 10°C (50°F). Gewurztraminer can last up to 10 years in their best years.