The spice of life
Hard to say but easy to drink, gewürztraminer is a scented wonder.
Once tried, never forgotten, gewürztraminer is a full-on wine, brimming with scents and flavours. Sure, it’s hard to pronounce (it’s ge-vertz-trah-MEEN-er), but don’t let that put you off – if you just call it “gewurz”, which means “spicy”, everyone knows what you mean.
The good news is that the variety is hard to say but delightfully easy to drink. Typically full-bodied, with a hint of sweetness and seductive smoothness, it’s delicious by itself, but also a stimulating partner for Indian and Thai curries, Chinese sweet and sour duck and pork, and pungent cheeses.
Blackenbrook Vineyard Nelson Gewürztraminer 2017
This refined, perfumed wine is a medium-dry style, with mouthfilling body (13.5% alc/vol) and a vibrant array of pear, peach, lychee and spice flavours, showing excellent delicacy and depth. $25
Hunter’s Marlborough Gewürztraminer 2017
Estate-grown in the Wairau Valley, this is a youthful wine, floral and full-bodied (13.5% alc/vol), with delicate pear, ginger and spice flavours, woven with fresh acidity, and a dryish finish. $25
Johanneshof Cellars Marlborough Gewürztraminer 2017
Already delicious, this fleshy, mouthfilling wine (13.5% alc/vol) has peachy, gently spiced flavours, showing lovely depth and harmony, and an off-dry, smooth finish. A wine to ponder, it’s less overtly spicy, more complex and satisfying, than many gewürztraminers. $31
Mount Riley Marlborough Gewürztraminer 2017
Priced right, this attractively scented, easy-drinking wine is softly mouthfilling (13.5% alc/vol), with good depth of peach, pear and spice flavours, dryish and smooth. $17
Seifried Nelson Gewürztraminer 2017
Always a good buy. The latest release is medium- to full-bodied (12.5% alc/ vol), with strong, fresh pear, lychee and spice flavours, a splash of sweetness and a smooth, very harmonious finish. $18
Spy Valley Single Vineyard Marlborough Gewürztraminer 2017
Bargain-priced, this exotically perfumed, weighty wine (13.5% alc/vol) has rich peach, ginger and spice flavours, with complexity derived from handling in old oak vessels, and a seductively smooth, off-dry finish. $22
Stonecroft Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Gewürztraminer 2017
Certified organic, this classy wine is already drinking well. Estate-grown, it is perfumed and sturdy (14.5% alc/vol), with peachy, spicy flavours, concentrated, dryish and well-rounded. $27