Gewürztraminer vs. Traminer

Updated 04/06/2007

    If you have additions/corrections/comments to the information, please contact me with your information Thank you, Mike Reilly

    Native to northern Italy’s Alto Adige region and the village of Termeno (or Tramin), from which it takes its name, Gewürztraminer is thought to be descended from the uva aminea, an ancient Greek vine grown in Thessalia and brought north by the Romans. Planted in the Tyrolean foothills since at least 1000, Traminer had migrated to Germany’s Pfalz region, where it acquired the prefix "gewürz," or spicy, by the Middle Ages, and arrived in Alsace in the 1870s. There is some confusion around the name and to exactly which variety it refers, as the names Traminer and Gewürztraminer are often used interchangeably, and the former (Traminer) also used for the Savagnin Rosé. This is further exacerbated by use of the adjectives “aromatic” or “musqué” after Traminer.

    "In France’s Alsace, where the grape achieves its highest quality and its greatest fame, there’s no problem. It’s Gewürztraminer and that’s that. In Italy, where it grows in Friuli, as far south as Calabria, and as far north as the Südtirol or Alto Adige (which is the region of the village of Tramin from which the grape takes its name) it may be either Traminer or Traminer Aromatico (alias Gewürztraminer). Sometimes it depends on the degree of spicy flavor in the wine, the prefix ‘Gewürz’ meaning spice in German; there has, in times past, been some confusion with the less aromatic Rotertraminer. Or the name Traminer may just be a convenient local shorthand. In Germany it is mostly known as Traminer, and grows (albeit in small quantities) mostly in Baden and the Pfalz; the Austrians go overboard and call it Gewürztraminer, Traminer, Roter (red) Traminer or Gelber (yellow) Traminer. Australia tends to be pretty relaxed about which name it uses, among these are Traminer Musque, Gentil Rose Aromique and Red Traminer. Even the less spicy sort should have something of the rose petals, tropical fruit and musk perfume that has brought fame and fortune to the Alsace versions, though some wines from Austria’s Steiermark region and Italy’s Südtirol can be very pared down." Source: Encarta MSN and Oz Clarke’s Encyclopedia of Wine, published by Websters International Publishers and Little, Brown, London, October 1999. For more information on Oz Clarke and his international series of wine publications, see The Oz Clarke Web Site.

    Note: I was curious about the use of the Australian terms listed above and asked Sue Courtney if the three names were still in use; here's her reply: "The names are not used here in New Zealand these days although a list of grapes varieties that were available for purchase from our research station in 1964 lists Roter Traminer and Traminer Rose. Gewurztraminer is used exclusively in NZ today.  I have seem Traminer on old bottles here and in Australia - but a long time ago. Jancis Robinson's book, "Vines, Grapes and Wines", has many synonyms for Gewurztraminer. Traminer Musque is a French derivation. Red Traminer I think would be a German derivation as she lists Roter Traminer from Germany. She does not list Gentil Rose Aromique. Regards, Sue Courtney" 11/17/2004

    Like pinot noir, however, Traminer vines do have a propensity to mutate. One of these mutations, Gewürztraminer, a few centuries ago, resulted in a vine that produces dark pinkish-brown, spotted berries and makes very distinctive and heady wine.

    TRAMINER and GEWURZTRAMINER (Gewurts-tra-meener) - Well known in Alsace, France, this white wine grape is known in California as the Red Traminer on account of the red flush on its skin when ripening. It is generally considered to be the finest Rhine wine type grape after the White Riesling.
    The wines are fragrant and distinctly aromatic with a spicy scent and flavor. They are produced in Napa, Santa Clara, and Sonoma counties.
    Gewürztraminer, also spelled Gewurz-Traminer and Gewurz Traminer, is obtained from selected strains of the Red Traminer grape. Famed in Alsace, Gewürztraminer is probably the most scented and pungent wine of Europe. A limited quantity is produced in the Napa Valley and the tendency is developing in California to label as such the more aromatic and spicy of the Traminer wines. Source

    As far as ampelography (the description of vines) is concerned, Traminer and Gewürztraminer are one and the same variety. The distinct differences in maturity and bouquet are obviously based on slight variations within one variety. Those wine connoisseurs who favor the fragrant wines are enthusiastic about Gewürztraminer. Traminer makes harmonious wines. Gewürztraminer wines are fragrant and of great complexity. In the Ortenau district, Traminer is also called Clevner. Source

    Since the Middle Ages, the parent variety Traminer has grown there. Traminer also is grown widely throughout Eastern Europe, but neither abundantly nor very successfully. With hardly any of the characteristic of its spicy offspring, Traminer berries are pale green and make much less interesting or appealing wine, hardly scented at all.

    Traminer [Tra-MEE-ner] - Still grown in France, where it is better known as Savagnin Blanc, and in California but almost everywhere else has been largely replaced by its much more intense and aromatic offspring Gewürztraminer clonal variety. The subject name is still used in Australia as an alias name for Gewürztraminer and, confusingly, is also known there under the synonym name Savagnin Rose. Source

Traminer
    Jancis Robinson, in The Oxford Companion to Wine, confirms that Traminer, is, indeed, a variety separate from Gewürztraminer (the German word Gewürz means spice, so Gewürztraminer is, literally, a Spicy Traminer) and she further confirms that Traminer, first noted in the Italian Tyrol village of Tramin around AD 1000, is in fact a progenitor of the other variety. However, in many parts of the world, including British Columbia, the names Traminer and Gewürztraminer are, in error, used synonymously. The confusion is exacerbated by this variety's chameleon-like propensity to mutate in keeping with its surroundings.

    Robinson also makes some fascinating links between the Traminer of Alsace and Tyrol and the Savignin grape used in wines from France's Jura region.

    Generally, Traminer is less aromatic than its offspring, although it shares similar spiciness and fruity character. It is prone to bud damage in hard winters, and the vines have a somewhat shorter life span than, for example, Riesling, but it generally ripens very well in our vineyard with harvest usually taking place toward the end of the picking schedule in late October.

    As far as we know, we are the only British Columbia winery growing and making varietally-labelled wine from Traminer. Made in Tilman's signature dry style, the wine has a very Alsatian profile, with nut and earth tones joining fruity aromas in a soft, rich body with an almost oily texture. As the wine ages, nut aromas become more predominant.

    We picked a little over 1 ton of Traminer in our vineyard in 1995, a very small share of the 467 tons of Gewürztraminer crushed province wide last fall. Source: Hainle Vineyards 

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    Alternate names: (Rot)clevner, Rousselet, Frencher, Edeltraube, Fromenteau Rouge, Gris Rouge, Dreimanner, Christkindltraube, Rotfranke, Kleinweiner, Ranfoliza, Fuszeres, Drumin, Ptinc Cerveny, Liwora, Rusa, Mala Dinka, Haiden Source 

McGuigan 2004 Traminer Riesling BLACK LABEL, 2004

Mosby Traminer 2003 - has a rich, typically spicy nose that implies sweetness. You almost believe it when you taste flavors of pear, lychee, lemon zest and tropical fruit. Surprise! The finish is long, clean, bracing and dry. 

    MOSBY Grappa di Traminer - Over the centuries, on the small winery farms of Italy and France, the winemakers would add water to the grape pomace and distill it. In France, this crystal-clear, high-proof beverage was known as Marc. In Italy it was called Grappa. The 80-proof Mosby Grappa di Traminer was made with pomace from estate-grown Traminer. It is an excellent conclusion to a meal—especially Italian cuisine—and should be enjoyed in the same way you would enjoy a snifter of cognac or a fine single-malt Scotch whisky.

    Sweet smelling Grape Pomace is comprised of recycled waste from wine pressings. Works as an extremely acidic (pH 3.8) soil amendment and mulch. Use on grapes, blueberries, raspberries, rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, potatoes and evergreen trees and shrubs.

1999 Alois Kracher #2 Traminer N V Trockenbeerenauslese, 93 points, Alois Kracher, Burgenland, Austria; Traminer (a sweet white dessert wine) 2002-2027, $55, Wine Advocate #141 (Jun 2002) The tangy apple-scented 1999 #2 Traminer Nouvelle Vague Trockenbeerenauslese is a viscous, well-focused wine. A myriad of spices can be found intermingled with sour berries, apricots, and peaches in this medium to full-bodied, rich offering. It is concentrated, intense, and boisterous. Drink it over the next 20-25 years. Importer: Vin Divino, Chicago, IL; tel. (773) 334-6700 —Pierre Rovani   

2000 Weingut Emmerich Knoll Traminer Smaragd Loibner, 90 points, Weingut Emmerich Knoll, Wachau, Niederosterreich, Austria; Traminer (a dry white table wine) 2002-2007, Wine Advocate #141 (Jun 2002) Explosive lychee nut and rose aromas emanate from 2000 Traminer Smaragd Loibner (this is Gelber Traminer but an Austrian law prevents the Knolls from indicating it as such). This is an intensely spicy, layered, sexy wine, from vines planted in 1993. It is reminiscent of a Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer. This wine is rich, opulent, and immensely flavorful. Perfumed mangoes are intermingled with juniper berries in its dry, balanced character. Drink it over the next 5 years. While Americans can be found knocking on the doors of Burgundian estates every day of the year, only 5-10 per year stop at Weingut Emmerich Knoll. This statistic is bound to change as Americans come to appreciate the stunning wines Austria, and this winery, produce regularly. One of Austria's finest wineries, Knoll produces ageworthy wines that are more restrained and elegant than their good friend (and competitor) F. X. Pichler. Importer: Vin Divino, Chicago, IL; tel. (773) 334-6700 —Pierre Rovani   

2001 Erich & Walter Polz Traminer Grassnitzberg, 89 points, Erich & Walter Polz, Styria, Austria; Traminer (a dry white table wine), Wine Advocate #141 (Jun 2002) This is a medium-bodied, rich, thick wine packed with peonies, lilies, roses, and apricots. Ever stepped into a perfume shop? I felt I was in a Sephora when I sniffed the glass of the 2001 Traminer Grassnitzberg. This layered, intense wine should be consumed over the next 4-5 years. Importer: Terry Theise Estate Selections, imported by Martin Skurnik Wines, Inc., Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300 —Pierre Rovani   

2000 Erich Salomon Gelber Traminer Reserve, 89 points, Erich Salomon Kremstal, Kremstal, Niederosterreich, Austria; Traminer (a dry white table wine), 2002-2007, Wine Advocate #141 (Jun 2002) The 2000 Gelber Traminer Reserve explodes from the glass with sweet peach and rose aromas. This medium to full-bodied and satin-textured wine offers flavors reminiscent of rose water (found in many North African and Middle Eastern desserts) and spices. It possesses more acidity than the majority of Alsatian Gewurztraminers (one of this varietal's cousins). The wine is fresh, zesty, and balanced yet is also rich as well as broad on the palate. Drink it over the next 5 years. Importer: Terry Theise Estate Selections, imported by Michael Skurnik Wines, Inc., Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300 —Pierre Rovani   

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