Gewürztraminer
Best known as perhaps the distinctive grape of Alsace, where Gewürztraminer can be bone dry or lusciously sweet in late harvest styles.
Origins
- Tyrol, Italy (slightly confusingly)
Characteristics
- Medium to full intensity of colour
- Spicy backbone
- Full bodied
- Very floral / perfumed - lychees and roses
- High sugar levels and therefore high alcohol levels (13 degrees plus)
Vinification
- Often picked with levels of sugar but fermented dry - so can smell sweet but taste dry - the exception being Vendange Tardives and Selections de Grains Nobles in Alsace
Homeland
Also to be found in
- North East Italy, Austria, Slovenia and Spain (in small quantities)
- New Zealand, especially Marlborough; Oregon; and Chile (promising results there)