Gewürztraminer is a bold and, dare I say, exotic grape that is frequently misunderstood. First, where does it come from? There has been much debate over the years, but DNA testing shows that it comes from its namesake, Tramin, in Italy’s northern, German-speaking Alto Adige/Südtirol DOC. The name Gewürztraminer literally means “a spicy grape from Tramin.” The Italians call it Traminer Aromatico, while the wines of the region simply name the varietal Traminer on the label.
Another misunderstanding concerns the wines themselves: many believe that Gewürztraminer is always sweet. This is not true. Gewürztraminer is highly aromatic and loaded with tropical fruits, peach, and melon flavors. Even when made technically dry, with low to no measurable sugars, Gewürztraminer wines often seem a bit sweet, thanks to their generous fruitiness and lovely spice notes. Later in the Tasting Wine section, I will explain the difference between fruity and sweet wine.
In recent decades, Gewürztraminer has spread around the world, but it seems to have reached its pinnacle in Alsace, France. In my view, Alsace is Gewürztraminer’s spiritual home. Alsace and its wine producers have coaxed the absolute best out of Gewürztraminer, creating wines with great depth while maximizing the grape’s moderate acidity. Grand Cru Gewürztraminer from Alsace is the top of the mountain. These wines can be drunk young while aging gracefully for decades.
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