Drink a Gewurztraminer from Alsace before you die! Why?
It's one of the most distinctive and unforgettable varieties on the planet - heady, exotic, and exuberant.
Sometimes described this as a Marmite grape—you either love it or you hate. Gewurz is one of the most, if not the most, exotically perfumed grape varieties on the planet. Pouring a glass often transports you to an oriental bazzar or a luxurious perfume shop with its pungent perfume of lychee, turkish delight, rose petal and lush tropical fruit.
Gewurztraminer grapes in vineyard, Alsace | Richard Semik / stock.abobe.com
Producing quality Gewurz is no easy feat, mind you, and in the wrong hands can easily end up overblown and clumsy. The variety’s natural tendency to high alcohol and low acidity can result in overblown, flabby and clumsy wine if not careful. The variety also has relatively thick skins often giving a notable phenolic bitter edge to the wine. This can be coarse and distracting in poor examples, but, in the best, it adds refreshing bitterness, like in a Gin and Tonic, and helps balance the naturally low acidity.
Alsace: home of Gerwurztraminer | © Taljat / stock.adobe.com
Always get your Gewurz from a producer with a stellar reputation. And, for a next level experience get a Grand Cru.
I’ve enjoyed many nights drinking Alsace Gewurztraminer at my local Japanese BYO with a bento box. Utter joy!