Chateau Ste. Michelle Gewurztraminer 2011 750ml

Winery: Chateau Ste. Michelle

Varietal: Gewurztraminer

The pinkish grapes of the Gewurztraminer vine are renowned for their exceptionally aromatic nature, and their delicious level of sweetness which marks them out as unique. Their precise origin is often debated, although many experts now agree that the earliest Gewurztraminer vines were cultivated in the German speaking parts of Italy. Given the correct conditions – notably a cool climate and a chalk-free terroir – the Gewurztraminer vines will produce their flavorful fruit in abundance, and can be used to produce a sweet, floral wine packed full of unique and interesting flavors and a wonderfully strong and perfumed bouquet. Most commonly, Gewurztraminer is known for carrying quite flamboyant flavors of rose petals and lychees, with a small amount of natural spritz present in the glass, something which is adored by wine drinkers both in central Europe and around the world.

Region: Washington State

The popularity of fine red wines, made with classic Old World grape varietals, has continued to increase in the United States over the past few decades. Washington state has consistently impressed with their red wine grape varietals, and many of the most popular American red wines of the past twenty years have come from this unique and interesting state with its two distinct regions. The vast majority of Washington's wines come from the arid eastern half of the state, a semi-desert irrigated by the rivers which run through the area, with considerably fewer wineries found in the wetter western side. Washington is renowned for the production of strong, fruit-forward wines made with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and other varietals, with many fine white wines being produced there also.

Country: United States

The first European settlers to consider growing grapevines in the United States must have been delighted when they discovered the now famous wine regions within California, Oregon and elsewhere. Not even in the Old World are there such fertile valleys, made ideal for vine cultivation by the blazing sunshine, long, hot summers and oceanic breezes. As such, it comes as little surprise that today more than eighty-nine percent of United States wines are grown in the valleys and on the mountainsides of California, where arguably some of the finest produce in the world is found. However, American wine does not begin and end with California, and due to the vast size of the country and the incredible range of terrains and climates found within the United States, there is probably no other country on earth which produces such a massive diversity of wines. From ice wines in the northern states, to sparkling wines, aromatized wines, fortified wines, reds, whites, rosés and more, the United States has endless surprises in store for lovers of New World wines.