If you think Gewürztraminer is always sweet, it’s time for a second look.
One of the world’s most aromatic white wines, Gewürztraminer is enjoying a quiet revival in British Columbia as winemakers increasingly embrace dry, food-friendly styles that suit both modern palates and changing growing conditions.
Originally from France’s Alsace region, Gewürztraminer is instantly recognizable by its intense lychee aroma, a character so distinctive that the wine and the fruit share the same aroma compounds. Alongside lychee, expect expressive notes of rose petal, ruby red grapefruit, ginger, and exotic spice, making Gewürztraminer one of the most perfumed and flavour-packed white wines BC produces today.
Gewürztraminer is widely grown throughout British Columbia and is the third most-produced white grape after Pinot Gris and Chardonnay. About 800 acres of Gewürztraminer are planted in BC. It is the most popular grape grown in the Kelowna and Summerland regions of the Okanagan Valley.
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The more exotic the food the better it will pair. Some of the best food pairings are Indian, Moroccan, and Middle Eastern cuisines and any dish utilizing nuts, dried fruits, and roasted meats.
When serving Gewürztraminer wine, the serving temperature should be ‘fridge cold’, around 6 degrees Celsius.
Here is no particular order: our Top 10 Best Value BC Gewürztraminers.
50th Parallel Gewürztraminer 2021 ($25)
This is an Alsace off-dry style but with enough body and acidity to balance the aromatics.
The wine has the classic aromas of lychee, kiwi, gooseberry and rose petals.
Meyer lemon to passionfruit to more lychee floods the palate. Your taste buds are excited by the acidity. 91 Points
Meyer Gewürztraminer 2023 ($19.22)
Cropped at only two Tonnes per acre from the estate McLean Creek Road Vineyard.
Alcohol 13.5 % / pH:3.52 / TA 5.5 / RS 6
Classic Gewürztraminer aromas of lychee and honeysuckle. It is a refreshing wine with flavours of yellow peach, honey and Meyer lemon. The mouthfeel is textured and balanced with a touch of minerality on the finish. It is a beautifully aromatic, food-friendly wine. 91 Points.
The perfect patio sipper or complement to lighter dishes like salad rolls, sushi or Thai salad.
K Little Vintners™ My White 2021($24)
“The Gewürztraminer 80% came from the rocky Volcanic soils on the Summerland slopes, and the Pinot Gris 20% from a gravel bed in Osoyoos. Both varieties were spur pruned and cropped to 4.5 tons/acre. The Gewürztraminer was hand harvested on September 11th at 23.36 brix, crushed and left on the skins overnight before pressing to extract maximum flavour from the skins. The Pinot Gris was harvested on September 20th at 23.94 brix and whole cluster pressed. Inoculated separately with cultured yeast and cool fermented in stainless steel tanks.”
Alcohol 13.3% / pH 3.41 / TA 6.3 / RS 3.6
A vibrant, straw-hued white wine with crystalline clarity. This fruit-forward gem captivates with delicate floral and citrus blossom aromas, accented by a whisper of lychee. On the palate, it unfolds crisp green apple, juicy mango, ripe Anjou pear, zesty Meyer lemon, and tangy key lime, all woven into a luxuriously textured mouthfeel. It finishes with a refreshing, lingering elegance. An irresistible summer patio sipper. 89 Points
Dirty Laundry Woo Woo Gewürztraminer 2023 ($19.99)
Half the fruit is soaked on skins in cold temperatures and pressed off into stainless steel, undergoing spontaneous fermentation. The other half is crushed, destemmed, and pressed directly into the tank, where it cold settles, racked, and then inoculated in cold fermentation to preserve varietal characteristics and aromas. The winemakers carefully blend the fruit while keeping some residual sugar in the bottle to brighten the Gewürztraminer fruit.
Prepare to be wooed by this vivacious Gewürztraminer. The lychee, peach and fragrant blossoms will seduce you. The Off-dry Gewürztraminer has a rich mouthfeel, spicy with ginger, honey, lychee and lime flavours, a light mineral backbone and a touch of sweetness on the finish. It has excellent intensity and a balance of flavours. 90 points
Castoro de Oro Gewürztraminer 2021 ($16.87)
The first breath from the glass is like a walk in an alpine meadow with freshly blooming wildflowers and classic aromas of lychee, kiwi, and gooseberry. This is a dry medium-bodied Gew. Meyer lemon, passionfruit, lychee, ginger and apricot flood the palate with a marzipan finish. A delightful degree of acidity entices the tongue to sip more. 91 Points
The Vibrant Vine Gewürztraminer 2019 ($23)
Vibrant aromas of lychee, white peach and delicate white flowers. The off-dry wine has a light mouthfeel and refreshing flavours of passion fruit, key limes, guava and lychee. 92 Points
Township 7 Benchmark Series Gewürztraminer 2022 (Sold Out)
“Crafted from handpicked fruit sourced from the esteemed Wheelers Family Vineyard on the Naramata Bench, this vintage was fermented using a combination of stainless steel and three neutral French oak barrels. The stainless steel fermentation, maintained at a cool 14°C over three months, preserved the wine’s vibrant aromatics, while the warmer barrel fermentation contributed depth and richness to the palate. To further enhance complexity and balance, batonnage was carried out to increase lees contact in the barrel-fermented portion. The result is a beautifully harmonized wine that seamlessly integrates aromatic intensity with elegant texture and depth.”
14.6% Alcohol | pH 3.61 | TA 5.5 g/L | RS 8.8 g/L | Vegan
This exquisitely aromatic Gewürztraminer captivates with a bouquet of rose petals, ripe lychee, zesty orange, and spicy ginger. On the palate, this off-dry wine unfolds with vibrant flavours of Mandarin orange, juicy yellow peach, and succulent apricot, all wrapped in a velvety, rich texture that lingers gracefully. 91 Points.
Black Widow Dry Gewürztraminer 2018 ($23)
Harvested at peak ripeness from our Naramata Bench Vineyard and nearby Wheeler Vineyard (also on the Naramata Bench). Fermented very dry at cool temperatures in stainless steel to retain aromas of pineapple, grapefruit & lychee.
Luscious aromas of Lychee. Tropical fruit flavours dominate, including pineapple, kiwi, and red grapefruit, with a touch of spice on the finish. The dry finish truly sets this wine apart from typical, sweeter versions. 91 Points
Pair with Asian cuisine, turkey, and sausage.
O’Rourke’s Peak Cellars Gewürztraminer 2020 ($22-$30)
For the 2020 vintage Peak Cellars introduced two fantastic Gewürztraminers.
Broken Granite is the leaner, drier and more mineral version.
For both wines, the first breath from the glass is like a walk in an alpine meadow with freshly blooming wildflowers and classic aromas of lychee, kiwi, and gooseberry. Meyer lemon, passionfruit, lychee, ginger and apricot flood the palate with a marzipan finish. 90+ Points.
Ruby Blues Gewürztraminer 2019 ($20)
The grapes for this wine come entirely from the Smallwood vineyard where the vines are over 35 years old.
A lovely floral nose, classic lychee and rose petals. The tropical fruit flavour, white peach and lychee with a pleasant, long, fresh finish. 93 Points
It pairs well with soft blue cheeses and spicy Asian dishes, like curry, sweet and sour, and more. This style of wine is enjoyable young and ages gracefully.
The wine was a Double Gold medal winner at 2020 All Canadian Wine Championships.
Reference
- Gewürztraminer White Wine Guide – VinePair