Heady and aromatic, this golden copper-hued wine gleams of roses, honeysuckle, and passion fruit. With gorgeous floral notes, a flamboyant bouquet, and an underlying spicy zip, it has a subtle sweetness and drips off the tongue like nectar. It has a full body, good acidity, and an exotic flavor marked by lychees and apples. This dry white is a wonderful representation of a German-style Gewürztraminer, which tends to be a little less flashy than its Alsation cousin.
Hydrangea, gardenia, rose petals, tarragon, passion fruit, red apple, lychee, honeydew melon, peach, and Asian pear.
G&M Machmer is a family-owned winery in Rheinhessen, the largest of Germany’s 13 wine regions. The Rhine River bounds the region to the east and north, imparting fertile loamy soil that yields fruit with complex flavors; spicy Gewürztraminer flourishes in the cool climate. Georg Machmer and his son Mark grow 24 different varieties of grapes. Combining traditional, natural farming methods with modern processing, the family has a reputation for exceptional wines that have won multiple awards. In addition to the G&M Machern Winery in the small village of Bechtheim, they have quaint tasting shops in Berlin and Soest. Despite its German name and success in France, the Gewürztraminer varietal actually hails from Italy’s Alto Adige region, where Traminer, the parent varietal, has grown since the Middle Ages. While prized for its taste, the Gewürztraminer vine is known for its viticultural difficulty. An early budder, it’s particularly susceptible to frost damage and infection; even the healthiest of vines are not super productive, yielding small clusters; and there is a slight tendency to bitterness (which overripeness can exacerbate), so a light touch at the wine press is needed. The grapes are dark pink in color hence the wine’s copper-golden color.
Gewürztraminer is an excellent match for fruit and cheeses, fresh and smoked fish to chicken dishes, particularly with recipes that include hot pepper, exotic spices, oriental flavors and even curry. My Spiced and Honey Glazed Ham recipe will work very well since it includes the NapaStyle toasted spice rub, a combination of fennel and coriander seeds, peppercorns, cinnamon, pepper flakes, and chili powder. Alternatively, make a chef’s salad with Chinese chicken or order in your favorite Chinese dishes.
G&M’s motto is quality and taste of the grape to the glass. “Gewürz” translates from German as “spicy,” but can also mean “perfumed.”
