Gewürztraminer
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Gewürztraminer, sometimes referred to as Gewürz or Traminer, is a white wine grape variety that performs best in cooler climates. It is known for its spicy characteristics.
The name literally means spice from Tramin. This refers to the fact that the wine was made in Tramin (South Tyrol, northern Italy) and that the grape has a spicy flavour.
It is now typically grown in the Alsace region of France, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, California, the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia Canada, the Niagara Peninsula, north shore Lake Erie and Prince Edward County wine regions of Ontario Canada, Caddo County, Oklahoma, and the Finger Lakes Region of New York. This is also a native grape to Trentino Adige, a higher altitude region in NE Italy. Unlike many Italian wines that receive Slovenian oak, this wine is aged in Austrian Oak.
The characteristic of the wine, rather than any specific spice, is that there is a strong smell of lychees on the bouquet. This characteristic aroma means that Gewürztraminer is classified as an aromatic wine grape. As such it is one of the few wines that is suitable to be enjoyed with curry and other Asian foods. It also goes well with Munster cheese, and fleshy, fatty (oily) wild game.
It is believed to be related to Viognier, another aromatic grape. It is not uncommon to notice some spritzig (fine bubbles on the inside of the glass).
History
The difference between the grape (Traminer/Savagnin/Savagnin Rosé) and Gewürztraminer is very small. The Office Internationale de la Vigne et du Vin states them to be extremely similar but separate. Traminer originated in Alto Adige village in Tramin. It is recorded that it was grown there from about year 1000 up until about the 16th century. It moved to Alsace through Pfalz where it got Gewürz added to its name, it was adopted in Alsace in 1870. In 1973 the name Traminer was discontinued in Alsace except for in the Heiligensten area.References
- Oz Clark & Margaret Rand (2003). Grapes and Wines. London: Time Warner Books. ISBN 0-316-72653-2.
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