In collaboration with PASSIONS, VOICE OF ASIA is proud to present timeless articles from the archives, reproduced digitally for your reading pleasure. Originally published in PASSIONS Volume 44 in 2011, we present this story on one of the finer things in life: Gewurztraminer wine.
The famous French statesman, Cardinal Richelieu, once said, “If God forbids drinking, would he have made wine taste so good?” One of the oldest and most popular beverages in the world, wine has long been part and parcel of the trinity of good living – alongside women and song. In this issue of PASSIONS Know Your Wine, we take a look at Gewurztraminer, the perfect wine for sweet dates.
The Origins
An aromatic wine grape variety that performs best in cooler climates, Gewurztraminer was first grown in the village of Tramin, located in South Tyrol, the German speaking province in the Northern Italy. Like the Savagnin Blanc, the grape originated from an ancient Tramin variety, a green-skinned grape which eventually mutated into a form with pink skinned berries. This sweet wine received its name from the Alsatians in the late 19th century and is called the ‘perfumed Traminer’, as “Gewürz” translates to ‘spice/perfume’ and ‘traminer’ comes from Tramin, where the wine originated.
The Flavours
Best described as a ‘spicy/bouquet’, Gewurztraminer has notes of pumpkin, spice, and cinnamon. The full-bodied wine is sometimes noted to be a little fuller than most wines due to its strong texture and heady scent. Its concentration of natural sugars gives a flamboyant aroma of roses, passion fruit and lighter floral notes. With fruity flavours such as lychee, apricot, pear and dashes of honey, the Gewürztraminer is a favourite amongst the sweet-toothed.
Food Pairings
Perfect to pair with fresh fruit and cheeses, the Gewürztraminer makes a refreshing dessert companion. This wine is also suitable in appetizers, sausages, meat, fish and other spiced dishes. Due to its sweet taste, this wine can also be served as a dessert wine.
Key Producers
Gewürztraminer is harvested in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and the USA where the cooler climate is key to ensuring the quality and flavour of the wine. Gewürztraminer can also be found in the wine houses of Léon Beyer, Schlumberger, and Zind-Humbrecht take particular pride in their Gewürztraminer wines.
