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Gewurztraminer

white · Medium intensity · Full body

Sensory Profile

Appearance

Medium·
deep goldcopperyrich yellow

Nose · Pronounced

Primarylycheerose petalgingerTurkish delightmango
Secondaryhoneyspicecinnamon
Tertiarymarmaladedried roseginger preserve

Palate

lycheerosegingertropical fruitspiceorange blossom

Structure

Full

Body

Low

Acidity

Off-dry

Sweetness

High

Alcohol

Long

Finish

Regions & Climate

Old World

AlsacePfalzAlto Adige

New World

MarlboroughCentral OtagoOkanagan ValleyMonterey
Climatecoolmoderate

Winemaking

Fermentation

Fermented in stainless steel or traditional Alsatian oak foudres at 14-18°C. Accumulates sugar rapidly, so timing harvest is critical — even 'dry' wines may retain 5-10 g/L residual sugar

Oak

Rarely sees new oak — the grape's intense aromatic profile would clash with oak flavors. Traditional large old oak casks in Alsace are flavor-neutral. Stainless steel dominates in New World

extended skin contact (8-24 hours) to extract terpene compounds from pink-bronze skinslow-temperature settling to manage phenolic extraction from thick skinsmalolactic fermentation often blocked to retain what little acidity existslate harvest (Vendange Tardive) and botrytis selection (SGN) for sweet styles

Key Tells

  • •Lychee and rose are the dead giveaway — most distinctive white variety
  • •Full body with LOW acidity — rich and almost oily texture
  • •Deep golden color for a white wine
  • •Often off-dry even when labeled 'dry'
  • •'Gewürz' means spice — ginger and Turkish delight are consistent markers

Often Confused With

ViognierRieslingChenin Blanc

Food Pairings

Munster cheese — the Alsatian benchmark; pungent washed-rind cheese with pungent aromatic wine

Chinese dim sum and roast duck — off-dry sweetness and exotic spice bridge to Asian flavors

Foie gras terrine (with VT or SGN) — rich, sweet, unctuous meets rich, sweet, unctuous

Spiced Moroccan tagine — ginger and spice in wine echo ras el hanout

Modern

Thai green curry with coconut — off-dry sweetness tames heat, lychee echoes tropical notesButter chicken or tikka masala — aromatic wine matches aromatic spiced sauce

Serving

Temp10-12°C (50-54°F); slightly warmer than most whites due to full body, but avoid room temperature
GlassMedium-large white wine glass with wider bowl — captures and concentrates the exotic aromatics
DecantNot typically decanted. Vendange Tardive and SGN benefit from 15-20 minutes breathing in glass