Gewurztraminer. It's not the thing people usually pick off the shelf unless they've tried it previously because that name is just a bit intimidating. But Gewurztraminer is worth a try. Gewurz means 'spice' in German, and notes of allspice to ginger and white pepper can be a unique characteristic of this wine.
One of my favorite one from Northern Michigan comes from the Leelanau Peninsula. It's produced by Shady Lane Cellars. The bottle I sampled was from the 2013 vintage.
The Shady Lane Gewurz was fairly typical of what you'd see in New World wines from this varietal. Gewurz has lost a bit of it's mojo after sweet and fruity wines fell out of fashion, as this is a wine that usually contains a few grams of residual sugar and has low acidity. Styles from places like the Alsace in France produce critically acclaimed wines, but most from the New World are far less focused.
With that said, I'm going to be biased and talk about how much I like Michigan wine.
Shady Lane's Gewurz from 2013 was definitely fruit-driven. On the nose, there was tangerine, orange peel, lychee, allspice, and a flinty smelling minerality. The palate was richer and more full-bodied than I expected, with a mellow and typical low acid finish.
Since it is a wine with low acid, it can offer unique pairings. The low acid and small amount of residual sugar mean it can stand up to spicy Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and Asian foods. Serve it as cool, just over 40 degrees.
Here's a look at Wine Folly's Gewurz page: http://winefolly.com/review/gewurztraminer-wine-guide/
One of my favorite one from Northern Michigan comes from the Leelanau Peninsula. It's produced by Shady Lane Cellars. The bottle I sampled was from the 2013 vintage.
The Shady Lane Gewurz was fairly typical of what you'd see in New World wines from this varietal. Gewurz has lost a bit of it's mojo after sweet and fruity wines fell out of fashion, as this is a wine that usually contains a few grams of residual sugar and has low acidity. Styles from places like the Alsace in France produce critically acclaimed wines, but most from the New World are far less focused.
With that said, I'm going to be biased and talk about how much I like Michigan wine.
Shady Lane's Gewurz from 2013 was definitely fruit-driven. On the nose, there was tangerine, orange peel, lychee, allspice, and a flinty smelling minerality. The palate was richer and more full-bodied than I expected, with a mellow and typical low acid finish.
Since it is a wine with low acid, it can offer unique pairings. The low acid and small amount of residual sugar mean it can stand up to spicy Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and Asian foods. Serve it as cool, just over 40 degrees.
Here's a look at Wine Folly's Gewurz page: http://winefolly.com/review/gewurztraminer-wine-guide/
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