he Gewürztraminer «Stephanie» thrives at 400 m.a.s.l. directly below the Leuchtenburg ruins on gravel, clay soils and porphyry bedrock, which gives it a unique character. Opulent, floral and fruity scents flow from the glass, reminiscent of rose petals, lychee, white peaches, jasmine and gardenia blossoms as well as fine tea. On the palate, the Gewürztraminer is very youthful and lively, elegant. It appears very balanced and presents a generous range of aromas of roses, oriental spices, nashi pears and nutmeg. Its juiciness and freshness make you want to take the next cool sip.

Attributes

Origin:	Italy / Alto Adige / Alto Adige
Grape variety:	Gewürztraminer
Label:	Vegan
Ripening potential:	1 to 5 years after harvest
Drinking temperature:	10 to 12 °C
Food Pairing:	Italian antipasti, Whole baked fish, Roast veal with morel sauce, Crispy roast chicken
Vinification:	fermentation in steel tank, pressing the whole grape
Harvest:	hand-picking, strict selection, in small boxes
Maturation:	in steel tank
Maturation duration:	10 months
Volume:	15.0 %
Note:	Contains sulphites

Producer

Weingut Nicolussi-Leck

The Kreithof, as the ancestral estate is known, is located near the idyllic Lake Caldaro in South Tyrol (Alto Adige) and has been cultivated by the Nicolussi-Leck family since 1915. Standing guard over it are the medieval ruins of Leuchtenburg Castle, which – like the estate – dates back to the 13th century and was presumably also associated with nearby Laimburg Castle in the Etsch Valley.

Today, the winery is run by Jakob Nicolussi and his wife Stephanie with his parents’ support. Around 5 hectares lie between the lake and Leuchtenburg. There are east, south and west-facing slopes at about 350 metres above sea level, some with a gradient of up to 40% and warm, loamy soils and the porphyry rock of Mitterberg mountain. Each vineyard or plot of land has its own unique microclimate and soil composition that distinguish it from the others. This diversity was used to select the ideal location for each grape variety.

Grape variety

Gewürztraminer

Floral wines for exotic cuisine

SeThe aroma is unmistakable: if it smells of exuberant rose, lychee and fresh grape, it is guaranteed to be Gewürztraminer. Its berries shine almost pink at harvest, but the wine is golden yellow. It has low acidity, but often reaches 14 percent alcohol and more. It is characterized by a slight bitter note at the end. These flavours stem from the family of the Traminers. It is cultivated on a large scale in Alsace, where the “gewurz” (spice) brings out an exotic side. In South Tyrol it is known as Traminer aromatic, and in Germany simply – and wrongly – as Traminer. In the Palatinate, there is a Gewurztraminer vineyard whose stocks are likely up to 400 years old. Wines of this variety harmonize fantastically with Asian cuisine, especially with Thai dishes and their lemongrass aromas.

Subregion

Alto Adige

Alto Adige: Alpenweine mit südlichem Charme

Am Alpenübergang gelegen verfügt das Südtirol über eine grosse Palette an Mirkroklimata und Bodentypen. Dies macht es möglich, dass hier über 20 verschiedene Sorten optimale Bedingungen vorfinden. Vernatsch, Lagrein und Gewürztraminer gelten als alteingesessene Südtiroler Gewächse, doch auch die Familie der Burgundergewächse finden hier ideale Bedingungen vor. In wichtigen Weinführern wie etwa dem «Gambero Rosso» erhält das Südtirol regelmässig die meisten Höchstbewertungen («Tre Bicchieri») im Verhältnis zur Rebfläche in ganz Italien.

Country

Italy

Italy – Where wine is a way of life

The Italian wine regions are extremely diverse, and this is made clear in their wines. Established varieties such as Merlot, Syrah, and Sauvignon can be found on just 15 percent of the total vine growing area. The remaining 85 percent is reserved for autochthonous, indigenous varieties. More than 2,000 different grape varieties are grown under diverse conditions and pressed with various techniques into wines that reach the top tier of the international wine market.