White grape variety

Gewurztraminer

Also called Gewürztraminer, Traminer Aromatico, Roter Traminer

Gewurztraminer is a pink-skinned white grape from Tramin in South Tyrol, a highly aromatic form of Traminer (Savagnin). It is known for intense lychee and rose aromas, low acidity and rich texture. Alsace is its leading region, from dry wines to Sélection de Grains Nobles.

Color	White (green-skinned)
Origin	Tramin, South Tyrol, Italy (an aromatic pink-skinned form of Traminer, also called Savagnin)
Body	Medium to full
Acidity	Low
Typical aromas	lychee, rose, passion fruit, ginger, Turkish delight, grapefruit, spice
Key regions	Alsace (France), Trentino-Alto Adige (Italy), Germany, Austria, Somontano (Spain), New Zealand

Origin and history

Gewurztraminer takes its name from Tramin (Termeno), a village in South Tyrol, now in Trentino-Alto Adige. Gewürz means spice in German, and the name, which can be read as spiced or perfumed Traminer, is attested in Germany from the 16th century. The grape descends from Traminer, also known as Savagnin Blanc, which mutated into a pink-skinned form called Red Traminer or Savagnin Rose; the ampelographer Pierre Galet proposed that a further aromatic mutation produced Gewurztraminer. In English and French the name is usually written without the umlaut, while German spelling keeps it.

Where it grows

Alsace is the reference region and one of its most planted varieties. It is one of the four noble grapes allowed in Alsace grand crus, with notable examples from Kessler, Zinnkoepflé, Mambourg and Furstentum. In Italy it grows in its home area of Alto Adige. Smaller plantings exist in Germany and Austria, and in Spain it is part of the white range of Somontano. New Zealand and North America also grow it in cool sites.

Taste, wine styles and food

Gewurztraminer is one of the most recognisable grapes in a blind tasting. Its signature is lychee: the grape and the fruit share the same aroma compounds. Rose petal, passion fruit, ginger and sweet spice follow. Acidity is naturally low and sugar levels high, so the wines are often full bodied, with relatively high alcohol and an oily texture; many are off-dry. Alsace also makes late-harvest Vendanges Tardives and noble-rot Sélection de Grains Nobles versions, which are true sweet wines. Its weight and perfume suit Munster cheese, foie gras, smoked fish and aromatic Asian dishes, including Thai and Indian food.

Test yourself: the Gewurztraminer quiz

Wines made with Gewurztraminer (53)

WineGuessr lists 53 wines made with Gewurztraminer, from 3 countries. Most come from France (51).

Know where these wines come from? Play WineGuessr →

Gewurztraminer: questions and answers

Is Gewurztraminer sweet?

Often slightly. Many Gewurztraminers are off-dry, though dry versions exist, and Alsace Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles are fully sweet.

Why does Gewurztraminer smell like lychee?

Gewurztraminer and lychees share the same aroma compounds, which is why lychee is its signature note.

What does Gewürz mean?

Gewürz is German for spice, so Gewürztraminer can be translated as spiced or perfumed Traminer.

Is Gewurztraminer the same as Traminer?

It is an aromatic, pink-skinned form of Traminer (Savagnin) rather than exactly the same vine, but the names are sometimes used interchangeably on labels.

Other white grapes

All grape varieties →

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Last reviewed October 2026.