A great variety of alcohol is produced in the world, strong and not very strong. Everyone chooses a drink to taste. You can try and forget, but Gewurztraminer is a wine that cannot be missed. Its unique taste, spicy aroma are forever engraved in memory and forced to return to this masterpiece again and again.
Wine
Wine refers to alcoholic beverages, get it from grape juice by full or partial alcoholic fermentation. This technique was known even 7 thousand years BC. The presence of the gods of winemaking Osiris among the Egyptians, Dionysus among the Greeks, Bacchus among the Romans shows how important the drink was in everyday life.
Where he first appeared, it is not known exactly, presumably it is Mesopotamia, Palestine (Israel) or Georgia. The Egyptians were actively engaged in winemaking and distributed the drink throughout the Mediterranean, the Romans - further, to all the conquered lands. Europeans brought to the American continent, to South Africa, New Zealand, Australia.
Description
Magnificent sweet wines, striking in their rich aroma and incomparable taste, are produced in France. “Gewurztraminer” - wine (photo in the text), which represents a masterpiece of Alsatian winemakers. This drink has an unforgettable taste, full-bodied, with spicy and tender notes of fruit.
"Gewurztraminer" is a wine, the description of which requires the use of adjectives only in excellent form. It has an incredibly strong individual and very diverse aroma, you can "hear":
- pion;
- a rose;
- apricot;
- zest;
- violet;
- blackcurrant leaf;
- dried apricots;
- white pepper ;
- saffron;
- honey;
- orange jam;
- peach;
- caramel.
You can feel the exotic fruits: passion fruit, mango, pineapple, lychee. Spices are also present: cloves, ginger, mint.
The drink has a saturated yellow color with golden light highlights, it is provided by the reddish skin of the berries. The round, full-bodied taste of the solid structure is combined with elegant freshness. "Gewurztraminer" is not accepted to stand in barrels, they drink it young, it reaches its peak in the third year.
History
Wines made from Gewurztraminer grapes stand out among other similar drinks with their distinctive taste and spectacular aroma. It is the most recognizable among all Alsatian wines. Having tried it once, you can not confuse it with any other.
Several hundred years ago, the Italian region of Alto Adige was famous for its grape variety “Traminer”. Roman legionnaires liked the local variety, and they delivered it to Rome. The drink from this grape was approved by Caesar himself.
The Romans used to drink wine daily, on the conquered lands they cultivated grapes, including the “traminer”. So he appeared in France in Alsace. Over time, for the amazing taste and persistent aroma, he received the prefix "gewurz" - spicy (German). Not only the name has changed, but also the shade of berries. The pale green peel changed color to golden yellow or mauve. It is this variety that gives a magnificent white aromatic wine.
How to serve
Alsatian wines are served chilled, usually up to 8 0 C. “Gewürztraminer” is a wine whose serving temperature may vary depending on its acidity. A very acidic drink is cooled to 12 0 , when the acidity is low, the temperature is reduced only to 8 0 . After pouring the wine into the glasses, it is recommended not to leave it on the table, but put it back in the refrigerator to prevent the drink from heating up.
The serving glass is called "Sauvignon Blanc", its unofficial name is "Accompanying the Old New Year". It has an elongated tulip shape. Aromatic wines are drunk only from such glasses; they most fully concentrate the bouquet of the drink in its upper part. According to the rules of etiquette, the capacity is filled by 1/3. This is just the "lake of wine" - its widest part, it turns out 100 grams of the drink.
What is combined with
“Gewurztraminer” - wine (consumer reviews are unanimous in this), which is perfect as an aperitif. It requires careful selection of a couple, finding a middle ground, preserving the peace and understanding between the tastes of the drink and the dish.
Interesting combinations are offered by culinary specialists of national cuisines:
- a Russian herring under a fur coat will find brighter notes, and the combination of salted fish and sweet vegetables will surprise with new shades;
- seafood of Chinese cuisine perfectly combines with wine, this pair emphasizes and mutually aggravates the taste;
- spicy Mexican cuisine will find a worthy partner; against its background, the drink will not be lost, but will take on the challenge, adding its powerful aroma to the strong taste.
“Gewurztraminer” - wine that goes well with fruits, gingerbread, desserts with cinnamon, ginger confiture. It can be served with meat or poultry with oranges, pineapple. Game will be in perfect harmony with lingonberry sauce, pilaf with dried fruits. Exotic dishes, old cheeses, foie gras, desserts - a divine fruity shade of wine will suit any proposed option. The amazing ability of Gewurztraminer is to emphasize the taste of the dish and make it more attractive.
The country of manufacture
All over the world, only one country is recognized where they produce the real, “right” Gewurztraminer - France. Here you can find dry and dessert sweet wines. There are inexpensive "folk" and privileged precious varieties. Some features of wine in other countries:
- The Italian "brother" is inferior in brightness of the bouquet, the severity of character. It is lighter, sour and does not have an expressive aroma.
- German wine is sweeter than Alsatian, slightly acidic, but brighter than the Italian version. It has a rich floral-fruity aroma with delicate animal tones.
- Yellow “Gelber Traner” and red “Rother Traminer” are the so-called “Gewurztraminer” in Austria. They have a very sweet taste.
- On the American continent there are no such ideal conditions for the production of this brand. In addition, the love of local winemakers for experiments does not add similarities with the original.
- The Spanish climate is too hot for the vine; in the process of ripening, the berries lose their unique spirit too quickly. The Catalans were not too upset and “crossed” the wine with nutmeg. Of course, he is far from the real Gewurztraminer.
The standard is the white wine Gewurztraminer (France). Winemakers from all over the world are guided by it, engaged in the production of an exquisite and amazing drink. The conditions and nuances of winemaking make it possible to add a touch of local flavor and features to each specific locality.
Wine "Gewurztraminer" (France, Alsace) is classified by degree of sweetness:
- Vendage Tardives (Vendanges Tardives - VT) or late harvest is made from late-harvest grapes.
- Selection de Grains Nobles (SGN) - is made only from the most ripe selected noble berries, they are considered to be the sweetest.
- Quintessence de Grains Nobles - QGN, rare wines, superior in basic parameters to exquisite SGN varieties.
Grape sort
“Gewurztraminer” is a grape variety (literally translated as “spicy grapes of“ tramine ”), which is a clone of the“ pink traminaire. ”The grape got its official name not so long ago, in 1973. It is a capricious variety that has high requirements for soils and microclimate .
It does not tolerate deprived soil and drought. Optimum for cultivation are fertile, saturated with minerals and limestone soils. French Alsace is famous for its uniquely high limestone soils. In this province, 20% of all vineyards are occupied by the Gewurztraminer variety.
The most favorable is considered cool weather. In a hot climate, berries gather sugar too quickly, lose their acidity, and an undesirable shade of bitterness appears in wine. Excess rain results in a loss of aroma. Earlier flowering in case of unexpected frost leads to shedding of flowers. The variety does not differ in a plentiful harvest, but with proper care, it pleases with quality.
It is cultivated mainly in France, Germany, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Croatia, northern Italy. There are vineyards with this variety in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, South Africa. In the post-Soviet space, such a variety can be found in Russia, Ukraine, and Moldova.
Wine classification
All existing wines are classified according to the following main characteristics:
- color;
- type of raw material;
- carbon dioxide content;
- exposure time;
- sugar and alcohol content.
"Gewurztraminer" - wine, which according to the classification can be described as:
- white
- grape varietal;
- average;
- young (up to 3 years);
- dry.
Production technology
Wine production has not changed for many thousands of years. Of course, the technology is being improved, but the essence remains unchanged:
- Unicellular organisms (yeast) turn the sugar in grape juice into alcohol.
- The fermentation period determines the saturation of taste and the depth of the shade of the drink. Red wines roam a little less than a week, in white varieties this process can take several weeks.
- Aging and storage are important, the period depends on the type of drink.
Experts figured out how to speed up or slow down the fermentation process, determined which tree is most suitable for long-term storage of the drink, learned how to cross different grape varieties. Despite all modern inventions, the technology of wine production remains the same. The Gewurztraminer is also made.
Curious facts
There are several interesting facts related to winemaking:
- wine is produced on all continents of the Earth, except Antarctica;
- the first scientific center dedicated to the study of the drink appeared in France;
- the taste and smell of the product depend not only on the raw materials, but also on the timing of the harvest, weather conditions in each case, the fermentation temperature, the aging time, the type of wood from which the barrels are made;
- store wine bottles with corks down or on their sides so that the cork is moist and does not let air in;
- professional winemakers pour wine into certain types of bottles corresponding to the type of drink;
- the taste depends on the serving temperature: light wines require more cooling of 7-10 degrees, 18-20 0 are acceptable for red;
- It was in Alsace in 1955 that the concept of “wine road” was first introduced, combining tourism, hotels, wine tasting and good food.