The Wine Stig - November 2011
Gewurztraminer (Ga-verts-tra-meener) originates from Alsace on the north eastern border of France alongside the Rhine, across which lies Germany. Gewurz means ‘spicy’ in German. It is the main characteristic of the wine. Gewurztraminer is the name of the grape and also the name of the wine made from the grape.
Gewurztraminer was first grown in Alsace in the 19th century and the grapes now cover roughly 20% of the vineyards in the region. Although the grapes are a dark pink colour, they are still white grapes and produce wines that range in colour from light to dark golden yellow with a copper tone although this will depend on the fruit’s ripeness when harvested. Gewurztraminer wines are full bodied and have a slight tendency to bitterness. The grapes grown in Alsace have relatively high sugar level and the wine can have an alcohol content of up to 13.5%. The grapes can also be made into excellent dessert wines.
It is clearly in Alsace where Gewurztraminer grapes give the best results. The wine is delicious, fruity and with strong aromas of spices and a perfumed flowery bouquet. Vines have also been planted in California, Australia and New Zealand where the climate leans to the cooler side and the flavours have an opportunity to concentrate.
Germany has about 10 square kilometres of the variety but very different from that of their neighbours across the Rhine as they use a different variety of the Gewurztraminer grape. The Germans go for a relatively dry style that tries to subdue the natural flamboyance of the grape. However, an excellent example of German Gewürztraminer is Villa Wolf which comes from Dr Ernst Loosen, one of Germany’s most highly acclaimed wine makers having won ‘Best White Wine’ at the International Wine Challenge on several occasions.
Thick and rich wine, Gewurztraminer is great with Asian food, spicy Thai and Chinese dishes and works really well with Moroccan cuisine such as a tagine. Or if you are like me, enjoy it as an aperitif or just have a glass whenever you fancy! As Oz Clark says, ‘no one makes good Gewurztraminer by accident’.
Gewurztraminer is normally available in more than one variety from larger supermarkets and good off licences at a price ranging from £6 to £12 a bottle.
In next month’s edition of ‘The Bay’, The Wine Stig looks at ‘Essential Christmas Wines’ from a celebration glass of bubbly to a dessert wine to complement the Christmas Pudding!