Gewürztraminer
Gewürztraminer (German: [ɡəˈvʏʁtstʁaˈmiːnɐ]) is an aromatic wine grape variety, used in white wines, and which performs best in cooler climates. In English, it is sometimes referred to colloquially as Gewürz (/ɡəˈvʊərts, -ˈvɜːrts/; although this is never the case in German, because "Gewürz" means "herb" or "spice"). In English and French it is usually written Gewurztraminer (without the umlaut). Gewürztraminer is a variety with a pink to red skin colour, which makes it a "white wine grape" as opposed to the blue to black-skinned varieties commonly referred to as "red wine grapes". The variety has high natural sugar and the wines are white and usually off-dry, with a flamboyant bouquet of lychees. Indeed, Gewürztraminer and lychees share the same aroma compounds. Dry Gewürztraminers may also have aromas of roses, passion fruit and floral notes. It is not uncommon to notice some spritz (fine bubbles on the inside of the glass).
| Gewürztraminer | |
|---|---|
| Grape (Vitis) | |
Gewürztraminer in Viala & Vermorel | |
| Color of berry skin | Rose |
| Species | Vitis vinifera |
| Also called | Gewurztraminer, Traminec, Gewürz, Gertie, Gentil Rose Aromatique, Traminer Musque (more) |
| Origin | Tramin, Italy |
| Notable regions | Alsace, Germany, Northeast Italy, Macedonia, New Zealand, Switzerland, USA, Canada, Southern Australia, Somontano in Spain, Stellenbosch in South Africa. |
| Notable wines | From Alsace, especially the Vendange Tardives |
| VIVC number | 12609 |
Gewürztraminer's sweetness may offset the spice in Southeast Asian cuisine.