Ready to kick off your weekend? It’s the Weekly Wine-Down with Chateau Ste. Michelle’s Gewürztraminer
Weekly Wine-Down time! This week’s wine is Chateau Ste. Michelle’s Gewürztraminer.
This Gewürztraminer comes with video tasting notes and a fact sheet. Uh, hello wine Cliff’s Notes! Thanks for making it easy on a sista, I appreciate you.
Um, how do you pronounce that?
Gewürztraminer [guh–voo rts-truh–mee-ner] is a terribly intimidating word. The first time I tried Gewürztraminer was about 8 years ago. My husband brought a bottle home and neither of us had any idea what it was or how to pronounce it. After figuring it out, repeating it and thoroughly enjoying it, we never forgot how to say it. Joe from Thumbs Up Wine pronounces it for you here, and as he says, say it 10 times and you’ll never forget it.
What exactly is a Gewürztraminer?
Ok, what in the world is a Gewürztraminer? Well according to Wine Folly it’s kind of like a grown up version of Moscato, which is perfect for me because I quit Moscato back when Drake started rapping about it. I wasn’t happy that it had become a popular thing instead of a wine thing. Selfish, I know. I liked feeling like a real grown up with my wine and didn’t appreciate that every club and bar began to offer a version my favorite sweet secret to anyone who wanted to feel on-trend. My 20-something self didn’t realize that Moscato needed to be shared with the world. She was too busy feeling insulted that she was directed to the Moscato selections upon entering wine stores when she was actually looking for Merlot. Anyway, I haven’t purchased a bottle of Moscato in about 8 years but I’ve purchased many a sweet white wine, including his one.
Gewürz absolutely gets the job done when you’re in need of something that’s sweet, but not TOO sweet. Gewürztraminer grapes originated in the foothills of the French Alps. They’re pink and grow in cooler climates like the Columbia ans Yakima Valleys in Washington where Chateau Ste. Michelle grows this grape variety. Chateau Ste. Michelle and Wine Folly suggest trying Gewürztraminer with Thai, Indian or Middle Eastern food and anything else with a spicy kick.
I love it. Truly.
Gewürztraminer is so fragrant and sweet smelling I almost want to drink it straight from the bottle. But I promise I didn’t. Really, I didn’t. Okay, I might have. Don’t judge me. Anyway, when I’m in the mood for something sweet and crisp, Gewürztraminer is a great go-to. For me, Gewürz functions mainly as a dessert wine. I can have a glass in the evening and not feel like I still want something sweet to eat. Chateau Ste. Michelle’s Gewürztraminer is at the very top of my list for sweet white wine, along with their Harvest Riesling (which I’m certain we’ll try in the future!).
Next up: Menage a Trois Silk
See you next week! And as always, drink responsibly!
