Aromatic grape varieties

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There is a special group of grape varieties whose aroma differs from others - it is brighter, stronger, more intense. One glass of wine made from such grapes can fill an entire room with its flavor. As a rule, it is dominated by floral notes, but it can also be nuances of ripe fruit and sweet spices.

These varieties are called perfumed or aromatic. Their powerful aroma is due to the high content of organic compounds, terpenes. Below, Vzboltai will consider the brightest aromatic varieties.

Muscat

One of the oldest varieties, has a Greek origin. It is widely known and widespread in the world, and has gained its popularity due to its unpretentiousness, as well as the fact that it gives a wide range of wines that can be made from it.

Prefers warm climates with a lot of sunny days and a Mediterranean climate. The best muscat wines are produced in Italy, with equally interesting samples produced in the south of France and Spain. The leaders in terms of volume are the Italian names Asti and Moscato d'Asti.

Muscat wine has tones of tea rose, rose oil, and aromas of tropical fruits, geraniums, flowers and sweet spices. Sweet wines also have a more "sweet" flavor - floral honey, fruit jam, citrus jam.

Muscat produces wines with a fairly high acidity, which will go well with fresh fruits, summer salads, white meat, and shellfish.

Gewürztraminer

Despite its German name, the variety is of Italian origin, with the best examples being produced in France, in Alsace. Like nutmeg, it is one of the oldest varieties, its roots stretch from the north of Italy, from the Trentino-Alto Adige region, where it has been grown for over a thousand years.

Unlike muscat, it is characterized by fastidiousness and capriciousness in terms of terroir and climate, requiring special attention from the winemaker and careful work on it.

Gewürztraminer produces expressive wines with aromas of rose petals, violets and peonies, lychee and ripe apricot, saffron and nutmeg... Sweet wines have more nuances of candied fruit, jam and spices.

The acidity of Gewürztraminer wines is medium, and they go well with flavorful cheeses, spicy fish dishes, as well as Chinese and Japanese cuisine.

Torrontes

A Spanish grape variety native to Galicia, one of whose ancestors is muscat. The most interesting samples are produced in Argentina, in the Salta region, where, due to the high activity of the sun, grapes accumulate a huge amount of aromatic substances.

Torrontes wines are distinguished by a variety of styles - from light, with delicate aromas, to full-bodied, bright and rich.

Torrontes is rarely aged in oak, more often stainless steel containers are used to preserve the freshness of the taste.

The wines are complex. Aromas of white fruits turn into a floral orientation, revealing notes of rose, geranium and jasmine flowers. In sweet wines, shades of rose petal jam, quince jam, and spices can be traced.

It will create a gastronomic pair with various pastas, it will be interesting to combine with exotic Asian cuisine.

Update: 21.06.2021

Category: Wine and Vermouth