Gewürztraminer or Riesling?

The exuberance of Gewürztraminer on the one hand and the chiselled structure of Riesling on the other: these two grape varieties have different characteristics.

Although Riesling is also produced as a Vendanges Tardives, the main aim is to reveal its finesse and purity. Late Harvest Riesling is therefore much rarer.

A dry wine must contain less than two grams of sugar per litre. Although known as a sweet wine, Gewürztraminer can also be made dry. It is generally pale yellow or light gold in colour. Dry Gewürztraminer is very expressive, with notes of rose, quince, citrus and passion fruit.

Sweet or dry? Discover the winemaking process and food pairings of ‘Gewurtz’!

Gewürztraminer can also be made into demi-sec or sweet wines. A demi-sec wine has a sugar content of between 4 and 12g/L, while a sweet wine is between 12 and 45g/L. This wine has a floral, fruity bouquet with notes of honey and candied fruit and a golden colour.

This designation indicates that the wine comes from the finest plots and grapes in the vineyard, recognised for their exceptional terroir. The Mambourg, Marckrain, Pfersigberg and Sporen crus are the finest examples of the Gewürztraminer grape variety.

The term Vendanges Tardives means that the wine is made from grapes harvested at over-ripeness and affected by the fungus botrytis cinerea. This fungus thrives on humidity and covers the berries with a fine grey bloom, concentrating the aromas and sugar to produce complex, intense wines.

These wines have notes of candied fruit, exotic fruit, beeswax and sweet spices, with a lovely roundness. The colour is generally a deeper golden yellow, sometimes coppery.

Gewürztraminer Sélection de Grains Nobles is made from botrytised grapes harvested by hand. The driest grapes are kept to produce complex, powerful, concentrated wines with a long palate and notes of ripe fruit, flowers and dried fruit.

1. Dry Gewürztraminer and chicken curry with coconut milk: the spicy, intense notes of this dish go well with the aromatic expression of Gewürztraminer;
2. Sweet Gewürztraminer and duck breast with orange: this tender meat goes wonderfully well with the smooth texture of the wine and the sweet and savoury combination is a great match for the sweetness of this wine;
3. Sweet Gewürztraminer and chicken yakitori with teriyaki sauce: Asian cuisine is well suited to the exuberant style of Gewürztraminer, thanks in particular to the sweet and savoury combination.

And many more pairings in our article on the best food and wine pairings with the Gewürztraminer grape variety!

Alsace Riesling AOC is a dry wine with a pale yellow colour and bright green highlights. The nose opens with fruity aromas such as lemon, grapefruit, peach and pear. There are also floral aromas of white flowers and mineral aromas such as gunflint, flint or petroleum. These are generally straightforward, well-crafted wines with plenty of freshness.

This grape variety can be crossed with the Vendanges Tardives label, which means that the wine is made from botrytised grapes affected by noble rot. This type of wine is rare, as producers are more interested in the purity of this grape variety.

With this label, the Riesling is luscious wine and particularly intense and concentrated. It is also a rarer vinification.

1. For those who love minerality and freshness in wine: dry Riesling is perfect;
2. Gewürztraminer is the perfect choice for those who like their wine exuberant, fruity and gourmet.

1. For the curious: a Gewürztraminer Vendanges Tardives to discover all the richness of this grape variety;
2. For beginners: a demi-sec Gewürztraminer is a relatively accessible wine that will suit this profile very well;
3. For connoisseurs: a Riesling Grand Cru is a safe bet because it will delight the most discerning palates.