Alsace, France is ground-zero for world-class Gewurztraminer
This is the last blog for the month of May on Alsace. A final tribute to one of France's smallest wine district, this article is about Gewurztraminer----sometimes considered an "ugly step-sister wine." The reason for this has nothing to do with its taste, but more due to the fact that many can’t even pronounce it. (Turn on the sound of your computer to learn how to pronounce it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6H6QcFPCNI) This fairy God
mother article hopes to change your perception about "Gewurz" (as it is often referred).
"Gewurz" is served in special green-stemmed glass only found in this part of France
A Slipper that Doesn’t Fit
Other than its difficult name, there are several reasons why Gewurztraminer might be the last wine
chosen for the Prince’s ball. First, it
is mistakenly associated with Germany….and German wines aren’t so popular. The best Gewurz, however, actually comes
from France. Alsace (France's far eastern wine district) is home to some
killer Gewurz. As Alsace is not typically on the average wine lover's radar screen, this is yet another
reason why this wine gem remains unknown. Gewurztraminer is also often
erroneously associated with sweet wine. Wrong. While there are some sweet renditions, but many Alsatian Gewurz are bone
dry.
Grand-Cru slopes of Gewurz grapes surround fairy-tale Alsatian villages
Why the Prince Should Purchase it for the Ball
Now that the
reasons why Gewurztraminer is unknown have been explained, here are the reasons this stunning wine should be considered. First, the wine is especially
aromatic. For women, its aromas
are so enticing that it’s tempting not to not dab the back of one's ears with it. Like a seductive perfume, Gewurz definitely
is one of those wines that “had the Princess at bonjour.” Intense floral aromas (think roses) are
married with beguiling fragrances and tastes of exotic lychee and ginger. The wine can also be laced with grapefruit/tangerine
or pineapple depending upon how ripe the grapes were when picked.
This varietal is a perfect pairing for fish & seafood
Foods to Serve at the Ball
Let’s explore next how dry Gewurtraminer works with food. Both white fish and seafood pair beautifully
with Gewurz. Many foodies are stumped
when choosing a wine for duck. Gewurtz
to the rescue! Because of the wine’s
ginger flavors, it also pairs well with dishes which have ginger in their
recipes. Curries and Moroccan tagines
are just two examples. Heavily spiced
cuisines, such as Indian, also pair perfectly with a glass of an exotic
Gewurtz.
Europe at the time of its Christmas markets is like no other time of year you've experienced
Princely Producers
Alsace is a
relatively small wine region, but its wines can be found in the US with a bit
of diligence (especially online). Trimbach
delivers terrific quality/price at $20. Domaine Weinbach is a stellar winery that you may
want to try. Weinbach's Cuvee Laurence is a dreamy, creamy dry Gewurz that will set you back $45-50. Worth every penny, the wine is among the best of this varietal in Alsace.
The Glass Slipper's Perfect Fit
Wine-Knows will
be visiting Alsace the first week of December as part of our Christmas Markets of France & Germany trip. As the Alsace region is known also as the epicenter of foie gras production (and has more Michelin star restaurants than any other region of France), it's a gastronome's paradise. Why not attend join this group and see if the Gewurztraminer shoe fits?
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