Pair Gewürztraminer with rich-fowl dishes like turkey, duck, or Foie Gras, along with egg dishes like quiche and omelets. You’ll also find that Gewurztraminer goes well with German dishes like pork chops, roasted ham, sausages loaded with sauerkraut, and wiener schnitzel.
Gewürztraminer is unmistakable from other white wines as it will instantly strike you with its aromas of lychee, rose petals, apricot, cinnamon, black pepper and ginger. The sweet spice notes of cinnamon and ginger make Gewürztraminer a wonderful pairing with vegetarian stir fry tossed in a soy sauce and ginger-based sauce, or not-so-spicy curries.
Because of its spicy nature, you might be tempted to pair up Gewürztraminer with a spicy chicken burrito or a Thai dish with some kick to it. This is a bad idea as Gewürztraminer is high in alcohol, and mixing alcohol with hot spices will make your mouth burn even more. For mild dishes like a not-so-spicy butter chicken, pad thai, or anything containing coconut milk, Gewürztraminer makes for a fantastic pairing.
Finally, Gewürztraminer is not a acidic white wine, instead, it is considered ’round’, and you’ll marvel at its oily texture. This oily texture lingers in your mouth after each swallow, making it more difficult to pair with food as Gewürztraminer does not work as a palate cleanser. Its strength lies in its contrasting or complementing flavours.
Best Food with Gewürztraminer
Type | Varietal | Food | Rating |
---|---|---|---|
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, Alsace | Muenster Cheese | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Asian Cuisine | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, Alsace | Cheese | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, Alsace | Chinese Cuisine Spicy | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, Alsace | Curry Dishes | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Duck a L'Orange | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Reuben Sandwich | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer - Vendange Tardive | Foie Gras | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, Alsace | Ginger | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, Alsace | Indian Cuisine | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, German | Indian Cuisine | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, German | Ethiopian Cuisine | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, Alsace | Ethiopian Cuisine | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Pork | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Pork With Fruit or Fruit Sauce | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Soy Sauce | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Thai Cuisine | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Vietnamese Cuisine | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Red Curry | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Green Curry | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Unagi/Anago (eel) - Grilled | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Sauerkraut Soup | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Waldorf Salad | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Apple | |
Dessert Wine | Late Harvest Gewürztraminer | Apple Dessert | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, Alsace | Cabbage | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, Alsace | Cajun Cuisine | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Charcuterie | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Boursin Cheese | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Epoisses Cheese | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Gruyère Cheese | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, Alsace | Smoked Cheese | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Chiles | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, Alsace | Choucroute Garnie | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Cinnamon | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Cloves | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, Alsace | Crab with Black Bean Sauce | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, Alsace | Duck | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Duck with Curry Sauce | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Duck with Fruit Sauce | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Peking Duck | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Fish | |
Dessert Wine | Late Harvest Gewürztraminer | Foie Gras | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Fruit Fresh | |
Dessert Wine | Late Harvest Gewürztraminer | Ginger Desserts - Gingerbread | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Ham | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Lamb Curry Dishes | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, Alsace | Lobster | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Lychee | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, Alsace | Onion | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Peanuts | |
Dessert Wine | Late Harvest Gewürztraminer | Pears | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Pork Roasted | |
Dessert Wine | Late Harvest Gewürztraminer | Rhubarb | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Sauerkraut | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Sausage | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Squid Fried | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Szechuan Food | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Trout | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Turkey | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Turkey Roasted | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Wasabi | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Zucchini Blossoms | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Zucchini Blossoms Fried | |
Dessert Wine | Late Harvest Gewürztraminer | Foie Gras Terrine Torchon Pâté | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Goose | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Pig Roast | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | French Onion Soup | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Potato Soup | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Brussel Sprouts | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Tzatziki Sauce | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Dumplings, Asian | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Cauliflower | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Yuzu-koshou (yuzu-pepper paste) | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Gari Tsukemono | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Pork Tenderloin | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Tom Yum Soup | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Chicken Peri Peri | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Chicken Teriyaki | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Pork Schnitzel | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Lobster Bisque | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Lentil Soup | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Papaya & Beef Salad | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Mackerel Soup | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Chicken Noodle Soup - Vietnamese | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Shrimp & Pork Rice Cakes | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Carp | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Blue Carp | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Lechón | |
Dessert Wine | Late Harvest Gewürztraminer | Diced Ham with Crystal Sugar | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Barbel - Fish | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Plaice | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Dab | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Fish Curry Dishes | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Cod with Sweet and Sour Sauce | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Fried Whiting Fish | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Corned Beef and Cabbage | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Apple Dessert | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Avocado | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Banana | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Barbecue | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Beef Stroganoff | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Beets | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Bluefish | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Caraway Seeds | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Caribbean Cusine | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Catfish | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, Alsace | Cauliflower | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Ceviche | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Cheddar Cheese | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Fontina Cheese | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, Alsace | Fourme D'ambert Cheese | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Gorgonzola Cheese | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, Alsace | Livarot Cheese | |
Dessert Wine | Late Harvest Gewürztraminer | Muenster Cheese | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Raclette Cheese | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Swiss Cheese | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Chervil | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Chicken with Curry Sauce | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Jerked Chicken | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Stir Fried Chicken | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, Alsace | Sweet and Sour Chicken | |
White Wine | Off-Dry Gewürztraminer | Chicken Tikka Masala - spicy | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, Alsace | Chile Rellenos | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Milk Chocolate | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Cilantro | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Clams | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Coriander | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Cornish Game Hen | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Crab with Coriander and other Spices | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, Alsace | Creole Cuisine | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, Alsace | Crêpes | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Duck with Coriander | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, Alsace | Duck with Soy Sauce | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Eggs Based Dishes | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Enchiladas | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, German | Fish with Curry Sauce | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, Alsace | Foie Gras Terrine Torchon Pâté | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Fruit Desserts | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Tropical Fruit | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Garlic | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Gravlax | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Grilled Dishes | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Gulab Jamun | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Hamburgers with Sweet Pickle Relish | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Herbed Dishes | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Horseradish | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, Alsace | Hunan Cuisine | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Japanese Cuisine | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Kung Pao Chicken | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, Alsace | Chicken Liver | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Grilled Lobster | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Broiled Lobster | |
Dessert Wine | Late Harvest Gewürztraminer | Lychee | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Melon | |
Dessert Wine | Late Harvest Gewürztraminer | Melon | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Mexican Cuisine | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Mint | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Olives | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, Alsace | Pad Thai | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Peanut Sauce | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Black Pepper | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Polish Cuisine | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, Alsace | Redfish Blackened | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Rhubarb | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Cobb Salad | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Satay | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Black Bean Sauce | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Turkey Sausage | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Chicken Sausage | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Seafood in a Curry Sauce | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Shrimp Curried | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Fish Smoked | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, Alsace | Haddock Smoked | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, Alsace | Smoked Salmon | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Trout Smoked | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Soba Noodles | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Pea Soup | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, Alsace | Red Pepper Soup | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Squash Soup | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Sweet Potato Soup | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Tomato Soup | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Southwestern Cuisine | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Acorn Squash | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Spaghetti Squash | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Stew | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Sushi Eel | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer, Alsace | Sweetbreads | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Sweet Potato | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Tandoori | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Seafood Tempura | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Tomatoes Raw | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Butternut Squash Soup | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Chicken Curry Dishes | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Hot Dogs with the Works | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Chicken Cacciatore | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Vegetarian Stir Fry | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Tom Kha Goong Soup | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Tom Kha Gai Soup | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Chimichanga | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Salmon Grilled on a Cedar Plank | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | General Tso's Chicken | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Hungarian Goulash | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Snails in Limousine | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Green Rice Coated Shrimp | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Grilled Goat Chop with Lemongrass | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Teochew Cold Crab | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Chicken Fried Steak | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Cabbage Rolls | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Cucumber Soup (cold) | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Liver and Onions | |
White Wine | Dry Gewürztraminer | Asparagus |
Alsace Gewürztraminer & Foie Gras Pairing
Alsace Gewürztraminer can either be dry or off-dry but will always taste sweet due to its lush flavours of lychee, peach and pear. The aromatic fruit flavours of Gewürztraminer tone down the richness of Foie Gras, while the round body of Gewürztraminer blends in with the velvety texture of the liver. While any bottle of Gewürztraminer will pair with Foie Gras, I would select a Vendange Tardives (sweet – dessert style wine) from Alsace France, where the wine has evolved with the food over dozens of generations.
Gewürztraminer & Roast Pork Pairing
Roast pork is another neutral-style meat, which we often doll up so we can add more flavour. For example, ham is often glazed, pork cutlets are often breaded and fried (pork schnitzel), and pork tenderloin is often stuffed. The fruity Gewürztraminer of apricot, lychee, mango and pineapple ensure you have plenty of flavour at hand to create a delicious springboard for those sweet pork flavours of Roast Pork.
Gewürztraminer & Turkey Pairing
An off-dry Gewürztraminer is an excellent wine to pair with Turkey as it tastes slightly like Thanksgiving in a bottle An off-dry Gewürztraminer is going to be slightly sweet, spicy and aromatic, making it a wonderful pairing with Turkey, stuffing and many of the fixings. Turkey is a neutral meat and often overcooked and dry. Gewürztraminer, with its juicy flavours of lychee, mango, passion fruit and peach, injects some fun into the turkey meat without overwhelming any of the turkey flavours you love.
I wouldn’t suggest bringing Gewürztraminer to a Thanksgiving buffet style banquet as the wine isn’t acidic enough to pair up with the wide variety of foods at hand. However, for a plated dinner of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce and perhaps some glazed carrots, Gewürztraminer will work just wonderful.
Off-Dry Gewürztraminer & Sausage Pairing
Alsace, which shares a border with Germany, is adored for their off-dry Gewürztraminer. Thus, it’s no surprise that Gewürztraminer is a fantastic wine pairing with Oktoberfest sausages loaded up with sauerkraut, ketchup and mustard. The hint of sweetness in an off-dry Gewürztraminer frolics with the sugar content found in the ketchup, while floral and fruity nose tones down the belligerent attitude of the mustard.
Off-Dry Gewürztraminer & Shrimp
Shrimp has a subtle sweet component to it and the slightly sweet nature of an off-dry Gewürztraminer complements this aspect. Shrimp is also neutral in flavour, thus, the peach, lychee, and pear aromatics of Gewürztraminer add more flair to this pairing without overwhelming the shrimp.
Sweet Gewürztraminer & Food Pairings
For sweet Gewürztraminer, like a late harvest Gewürztraminer or a Vendange Tardive, you’ll find that they are a lovely pair with fruity desserts, such as a peach, pear, apple, or lychee dessert. With its aromas of sweet spices, Gewürztraminer is also exceptional with desserts containing cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. Thus, gingerbread, churros and Pumpkin Pie pair well with a sweet wine like Gewürztraminer, provided the wine is sweeter than the dessert.
What Not to Pair Gewürztraminer With
Other than hot and spicy dishes, keep Gewürztraminer away from acidic foods, like tomatoes, and tossed green salads with sharp vinaigrettes. The lack of acidity in Gewürztraminer clashes with foods that are acidic and gives the wine a metallic taste.
Remember too that Gewürztraminer is a bold wine and will overpower simple and delicate dishes, like light fish dishes. For the best results, stick to lighter-fare dishes (like chicken, veal, and pork) packing plenty of flavour.
Notable Producers of Gewürztraminer
For dry and off-dry Gewürztraminer, Fielding Estate (Canada) and Helfrich, Hugel, Beyer, Boxler, Pierre Sparr, Trimbach, Weinbach and Zind-Humbrecht in Alsace, France make excellent Gewürztraminer. Navarro Vineyards, Hazlitt, Canoe Ridge, Covey Run, and Hogue Cellars from America also produce excellent examples of Gewürztraminer.
Gewürztraminer vs Riesling
Gewürztraminer and Riesling share similar qualities in that they are produced in dry, off-dry and sweet forms of wine. Riesling is much more acidic than Gewürztraminer and features crisp flavours of lemon, lime, peach and minerals. Gewürztraminer on the other hand is low in acidity and has an oily texture. Gewürztraminer is much more spicy and aromatic on the nose with flavours of lychee, apricot, rose petals, and black pepper.