Story: Traminer Aromatico | Grape variety
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History and origin
Gewürztraminer originates from a mutation of Traminer, which in turn is associated with the long-established Savagnin Blanc grape variety from Savoie in France. It was first mentioned in 1827 in Rheingau and Oppenheim, where it was referred to as “Rother Traminer” or “Rother Riesling.” However, it is now most widely grown in Alsace, where it covers around 3,000 hectares and is one of the most important and highest-quality varieties alongside Riesling, Muscat, and Pinot Gris. There, it is considered a distinctive wine with high recognition value and has a reputation as one of the most aromatic white wines in Europe.

Its name also hints at its possible origin: Gewürztraminer means “spicy wine from Tramin” - a reference to the South Tyrolean wine village traditionally considered the variety's place of origin. Traminer was already mentioned in the Middle Ages, and around 1470 it was even used as sacramental wine. In 1593, the Munich scholar Aegidius Albertinus warned women against excessive consumption of this seductive drop. While the simple Traminer has been known since the 13th century, Gewürztraminer differs in its particularly pronounced aroma, which makes it unmistakable.

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Grapevine and growing regions in Italy
The grapes usually ripen to a pink to copper color, although the variety is classified as a white wine. In Italy, Gewürztraminer is mainly native to the north: about half of the cultivation area is in Trentino-South Tyrol, with another large part in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. South Tyrol (Alto Adige) is considered the center of production: the vineyards stretch between Lagundo and Salurn, with the areas around Kaltern, Kurtatsch, and Tramin being particularly important. Here, the appellation is Alto Adige (South Tyrol) Gewürztraminer DOC. South Tyrolean Gewürztraminer has been protected as a DOC wine since 1975. In South Tyrol, over 600 hectares are planted with Gewürztraminer, which corresponds to around 11% of the province's total vineyard area. The variety is also found in Friuli (for example, Collio, Colli Orientali, and Carso), in parts of Veneto, and in smaller parcels in Piedmont, the Aosta Valley, and even Tuscany.

The variety has deep roots and cultural significance, particularly in Tramin itself, the center of cultivation in South Tyrol. The vineyards around the village benefit from a unique combination of alpine and Mediterranean climates and calcareous, mineral-rich soils, which give Gewürztraminer its characteristic richness and aroma. This is where wines of great elegance are produced, combining floral and spicy notes and considered the flagship of the region. To this day, Tramin is synonymous with the origin of this grape variety and embodies both the tradition and the further development of Gewürztraminer in its purest form. - Gerardo [TS10/25]