The Gewürztraminer variety today symbolises winegrowing in South Tyrol: with a noteworthy past, a future waiting to be discovered and a present that sees it among the wines that Italians appreciate the most. Recognisable by its clear, intense aroma, Gewürztraminer stems from a history that, taking a long-established taste, has transformed it so that it is now round, soft and powerful in its aromatic expression and sipping structure, enhancing the sugary richness that this variety has always retained.
South Tyrol and Gewürztraminer are linked by many hundreds of years of winegrowing tradition dating back to the fifth century BC. For this grape variety, however, quality first began to play a critical role in its production choices much more recently, towards the end of the 1970s. Its success is probably due to the ease with which certain scents can be recognised, or to its extremely enjoyable character or, again, to its aptitude for going with particular foods. Indeed, this captivating wine lends itself to numerous pairings: with shellfish, molluscs or oriental cuisine, to name but a few. Precisely because of the ever-increasing popularity of these cuisines and flavours, the future of Gewürztraminer is full of the potential of such combinations.
South Tyrolean producers are, as always, working meticulously on Gewürztraminer: its unique distinguishing feature today is its acidity. The accommodating softness that has marked it throughout its history is now beginning to give way to a freshness. The aim is to obtain firmer, finer, more elegant products that can better express the crispness and dynamism of the fruit. Another characteristic of Gewürztraminer, one that will be increasingly valued in the near future, is its longevity. The tasting of a Gewürztraminer some 6 or 7 years after its harvesting is an experience that reveals the complexity hidden among the small berries that mark this extraordinary variety.
