Vine varieties: Gewurztraminer

Usually dry to off-dry, but its low acidity, combined with high alcohol and glycerol, often give an impression of sweetness. Gewurztraminer has a distinctive aroma and flavour, with hints of lychees and grapefruit. The naturally high sugar levels of Gewurztraminer make it ideal for late-harvest sweet wines, and this is the most frequent varietal found as Vendange Tardive. Poorly made examples can be blowsy, flat, over-alcoholic, sometimes oily. Gewurztraminer from the southern end of Alsace, around Eguisheim southwards, tends to have quite a different character, and is generally more aromatic as well as richer in weight.