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Natalie MacLean, editor of the award-winning wine newsletter at NatalieMacLean.com and author of Red, White and Drunk All Over helped AskMen.com learn about the extraordinary white wine Gew\u00fcrztraminer.<\/p>\n
Gew\u00fcrztraminer has historically been unfairly treated and ignored. This dry white wine calls Alsace home and despite its distinctive character, its more popular big brother Riesling largely overshadows it — \u201cpartly because Gew\u00fcrztraminer is hard to say in a restaurant or liquor store,\u201d says MacLean. Once you taste Gew\u00fcrztraminer, however, you\u2019ll either love it or hate it. Either way, there\u2019s no way you can ignore this versatile wine or its lychee and rose aromas any longer.<\/p>\n
About Gew\u00fcrztraminer<\/p>\n
Gew\u00fcrztraminer is an honest and straightforward wine. According to Natalie MacLean, many oenophiles write off this incredible wine because \u201cit has unusual aromas that are an acquired taste (or smell).\u201d <\/p>\n
Gew\u00fcrztraminer is one of the few wines that has adopted the name of the grape from which it is produced. The grape itself has a pink to red colored skin and the etymology of its name offers an interesting story: The \u201ctraminer\u201d part of its name is derived from a region in the Italian Alps known as Trentino-Alto Adige, while the \u201cGew\u00fcrz\u201d portion is distinctly German and means \u201cspicy.\u201d Adding to the international scope of this story is the fact that the Gew\u00fcrztraminer varietal has had the most success in France.<\/p>\n
Gew\u00fcrztraminer isn\u2019t an easy wine to produce, owing in large part to the early spring budding and is, therefore, susceptible to frost damage. The vine is reluctant to fight off viral infections and the grape clusters are typically small in the best of conditions. As a result, many producers fail to give it the care or time it deserves.<\/p>\n
Where to find Gew\u00fcrztraminer<\/p>\n
If you were so inclined to take a wine tour to explore the regions from which Gew\u00fcrztraminer hails, you\u2019d be well-advised to pack a wool sweater, a warm hat and a pair of long pants. That\u2019s because this grape thrives in cooler climates and though it does best in the Alsace region of France, its producers there still struggle with it. The vine must be closely monitored and an exacting harvest time is essential to producing a wine that maintains the proper acid and pH balance. If it\u2019s picked too early, you\u2019ll end up with an acidic wine and, conversely, if it’s picked too late, you\u2019ll miss out on Gew\u00fcrztraminer\u2019s distinctive qualities because it gets too ripe.<\/p>\n
Your Gew\u00fcrztraminer wine tour might also bring you to Canada, the U.S., Australia, Italy, Germany, and Israel. The good news is, however, that after years of static production acreage, Gew\u00fcrztraminer is expanding, most notably in New Zealand and in Oregon and Washington states.<\/p>\n
One of the main problems with Gew\u00fcrztraminer producers is that they are not able to dedicate enough land to the grape; usually they give it five acres, but \u201csome do more\u201d according to MacLean. As a result, much of Gew\u00fcrztraminer\u2019s reputation is derived from the shipper and not the vineyard.<\/p>\n
How to pair Gew\u00fcrztraminer<\/p>\n
Many consider Gew\u00fcrztraminer a perfect wine to be paired with spicy Asian cuisine, such as Indian or Thai. It is true, but there are so many other possibilities owing to its bold flavors and aromas. Natalie MacLean says that Gew\u00fcrztraminer is one of the most versatile wines to match with food because it’s full-bodied and flavorful, so it stands up to heartier meat dishes than most whites. Its spicy and floral aromatics also means that it can handle curries and tangy sauces.\u201d<\/p>\n
“In fact, in the interactive wine-and-food matching tool on my website, I pair Gew\u00fcrztraminer with beef bourguignonne, black pepper crusted cheeses, duck a l’orange, rack of lamb with rosemary seasoning, charcuterie, and onion tarts,” says MacLean. She also points out that this delicious white wine isn\u2019t always limited to being paired with main-course dishes or with hors d’oeuvres: \u201cWhen Gew\u00fcrztraminer is made in an off-dry or dessert style, it marries beautifully with fruit-based desserts, such as flans and cobblers, as well as various pastries.\u201d<\/p>\n
Try playing matchmaker with some of these suggestions:<\/p>\n
\u2022\tSauerkraut and sausage
\u2022\tMunster cheese
\u2022\tCurry-based plates
\u2022\tChinese and Mexican
\u2022\tFresh fruit
\u2022\tFatty and oily game
\u2022\tSmoked salmon
\u2022 Chicken<\/p>\n
Gew\u00fcrztraminer prices<\/p>\n
Given the inherent difficulties with the production of Gew\u00fcrztraminer, it is a relatively affordable wine. “As more and more wine lovers discover Gew\u00fcrztraminer ‘s versatility and terrific taste, the market for it will grow. In the meantime, those of us who have discovered it now can drink this undiscovered gem at very reasonable prices in the range of $7 to $15,” says MacLean.<\/p>\n
Gew\u00fcrztraminer can also extend into three-digit territory, but unless you\u2019re trying to impress someone (and let\u2019s face it, no one likes a wine snob) it\u2019s a waste of your money. If, however, you\u2019re looking for a bottle to bring to a dinner party or to give as a gift, excellent bottles of Gew\u00fcrztraminer can be had for anywhere between $18 and $40.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re a neophyte, you\u2019ll be pleased with a mid-priced bottle of Gew\u00fcrztraminer. A bottle in this range will contain all the typical Gew\u00fcrztraminer characteristics you need to learn and develop your tasting skills. Also note that as more producers emerge in the United States, you won\u2019t necessarily have to spend more than $20 for a quality bottle.<\/p>\n
Gew\u00fcrztraminer recommendations<\/p>\n
2001 Hugel Gew\u00fcrztraminer Vendange Tardive
AC Alsace, France
$69.95 <\/p>\n
This Gew\u00fcrztraminer is a low-acidity wine with rich layers of sweet pears, lychee and spice. Pair it with pork and glazed ham with cloves. <\/p>\n
Natalie MacLean\u2019s score: 91\/100<\/p>\n
2005 Darting Gew\u00fcrztraminer Kabinett, Qmp, D\u00fcrkheimer Nonnengarten
Germany, Pfalz Region
$16.95 <\/p>\n
Stunning! A white wine with exotic layers of rose petals, lychee and nuts. Closed with a screwcap.<\/p>\n
Natalie MacLean\u2019s score: 90\/100<\/p>\n
2005 Gew\u00fcrztraminer Vendanges Tardives
Alsace, France
$34.00 <\/p>\n
The producer states that this bottle is made from late-harvest grapes, which creates a wine with subdued Gew\u00fcrztraminer characteristics. Despite its subtleties, it\u2019s still an intense glass with complexity and length in the mouth. The bottle should be served as an aperitif or with light desserts.<\/p>\n
Gew\u00fcrztraminer takeaway tips<\/p>\n
\u2022\tGew\u00fcrztraminer can be drunk as an aperitif or with nearly any meal.
\u2022\tGew\u00fcrztraminer is often considered a dessert wine.
\u2022\tIts color is typically straw yellow.
\u2022\tA glass of Gew\u00fcrztraminer will often have spritz.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Natalie MacLean, editor of the award-winning wine newsletter at NatalieMacLean.com and author of Red, White and Drunk All Over helped AskMen.com learn about the extraordinary white wine Gew\u00fcrztraminer. Gew\u00fcrztraminer has historically been unfairly treated and ignored. This dry white wine calls Alsace home and despite its distinctive character, its more popular big brother Riesling largely overshadows it — \u201cpartly because Gew\u00fcrztraminer is hard to say in a restaurant or liquor store,\u201d says MacLean. Once you taste Gew\u00fcrztraminer, however, you\u2019ll either love it or hate it. Either way, there\u2019s no way you can ignore this versatile wine or its lychee and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-581","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-grapes-regions"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nataliemaclean.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/581","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nataliemaclean.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nataliemaclean.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nataliemaclean.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nataliemaclean.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=581"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.nataliemaclean.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/581\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nataliemaclean.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=581"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nataliemaclean.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=581"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nataliemaclean.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=581"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}