Gewürztraminer is a crisp, spicy, full-bodied white wine that is generally dry. While Alsace is known for its Gewürztraminer, this wine is also produced in other parts of France, Germany, Central Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. The prefix, “gerwürz,” is German for spicy. This attribute makes Gewürztraminer a good wine for pairing with spicy food such as Chinese, Indian curries, and Thai dishes.

Wine Pairing Basics

How do you know which wine to serve with the meal you’ve planned? Generally, wine experts suggest that you pick a wine that will offer a good balance to the food. Red meat is usually paired with a full-bodied red wine, which might overpower the taste of a light, flaky fish. However, a roasted salmon dish might be better with a red wine rather than a lighter white wine. Acidic tomato-based pasta sauces are often paired with wines that have a higher acid content.

 Many people do not think of serving wine with highly spiced ethnic foods such as Chinese, Indian, and Thai, but Gewürztraminer is often the perfect pairing with such cuisines.

 It can be misleading, however, to put limits on any wine-food pairings. For instance, there are many varieties of Gewürztraminer, some dryer than others, some with more a more pronounced spiciness, some with a distinct floral aroma. You may enjoy some of these white wines with barbeque, and others as a dessert wine. In the end, you must rely on your own tastes and judgment to discover which wine-food pairings are most agreeable to you.

Ideas for Pairings with Gewürztraminer Wine

Given its lively, spicy characteristics, Gewürztraminer is often paired with salty, spicy, or smoked foods and dishes, as well as a variety of soft cheeses. These include:

• Goose or duck pate and fois gras
• Smoked oysters
• Smoked salmon
• Smoked cheeses
• Soft cheeses such as Gorgonzola, Gouda, mild cheddar, Fontina, Swiss, and goat cheese
• Quiche Lorraine
• French onion soup
• Roasted game birds such as quail or pheasant
• Grilled shrimp
• Lobster
• Chinese food
• Indian food
• Thai food
• Vietnamese food
• Sushi and sashimi

Gewürztraminer is also noted for its floral aromas, such as roses or gardenias, fruit overtones, often described as apricot, lychee, or mango, and suggestions of spices such as nutmeg or cloves. This fruitiness makes this wine a good pairing with desserts such as:

• Apple pie
• Clafoutis
• Fruit tarts

Gewürztraminer: A Robust White with Versatility

If you haven’t explored Gewürztraminer wine yet, you might be in for a happy surprise, especially since this wine makes for some unusual—but apt—pairings with foods that may not benefit from a Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio. If you are a fan of spicy Asian cuisine or smoked fish and cheeses, definitely put this variety on your shopping list.