Gewurztraminer

Dear wine lovers,

Alsace is somehow an exception in the french controlled appellation system since it is permitted to show the solo grape variety on the label. But for those who don't understand the way we classify our wines, don't get too excited... Alsace also has myriads of micro appellations based on all the terroirs discovered throughout the centuries by those hard workers and passionate farmers.

I am not personally a big fan of Alsace wine. It is obviously not because of their quality but just my taste. Thankfully, we all have different palates that affect our wine perceptions. As for me, I sometimes have a hard time with too much acidity.

But there is one that I really like : Gewurztraminer. Mostly late harvested, it has an average of 20 g/l of residual sugars which gives it the sensation of sweetness. But Gewurztraminer can be also a dry wine, one that is elegant and refreshing.

Dry, it develops aromas such as rose and litchi. Late harvest wines will bring acacia, exotic and jam fruits such as mango or apricot, evolving with age to honey and spices. There is, at last, the marvellous "grain noble selection" (grapes are picked one by one in November) that develop gingerbread and quince** flavors.

Drink the dry version for the aperitif this summer. As residual sugars grow, it should perfectly match sweet and sour dishes like Asian food. And for the famous late harvest, drink it with Roquefort or other very strong flavored cheeses like Maroilles... it's really worth the try.

The vineyards that produce Gewurztraminer are mostly located around Colmar. Pierre Adam and Antoine Fonne are boutique producers in Ammerschwihr. In bigger quantities and easier to find, Domaine Weinbach in Kaysersberg, Leon Beyer in Eguisheim or Hugel in Riquewhir (one of the most beautiful village in Alsace http://www.ribeauville-riquewihr.com/EN/Riquewihr.php?ouvert=1) are also very serious references.

Cheers,

Jean-Marc Espinasse

Any comments, edits are very welcome at contact@french-wine-a-day.com

*Listen to "Gewurztraminer" : Download Gewurztraminer.wav

**Quince = Coing

To see Gewurztraminer area production on a French wine map (use enlarge icon to see it better) : Download Gewurztraminer.jpg

And to learn more about Alsace wines and all their controlled appellations, visit http://www.vinsalsace.com/en/index.html