Lingenfelder Gewurztraminer Hare Label 2011

Winery: Lingenfelder

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: Pfalz

The region of Pfalz in Germany is generally considered to be one of the best places in the country when it comes to wine production, and the stunning array of grapevines which thrive in the fertile soils of the region are a testament to just how suited the land is to German viticulture. Pfalz has been a fine place for cultivating vineyards for over two thousand years, ever since the Romans first established wineries in the northern parts of the region. Almost consistently since then, more and more vineyards have been planted, and more and more wineries set up, and today, Pfalz is the second largest wine region in the country, and home to an impressive array of native and imported red and white wine grape varietals.

Country: Germany

If German wine has had something of a bad reputation in the past, it may well be the fault of the fact that for a long time now, the Germans have simply kept all the best produce to themselves. Visit any town or village in wine producing regions of Germany, and you'll be faced with a stunning array of extremely high quality wines, each matched with local dishes and full of distinct character and flavor. As white wine production makes up for about two-thirds of all Germany's wine industry, this is by far the most visible and widely enjoyed type of wine, but one should not overlook the quality and range of rosé and red wines on offer from this fascinating country. In particular, the Spatburgunder wines (the German name for Pinot Noir) are generally of an exceptionally high quality, being full of dark, intense hedgerow fruit flavors and exciting spicy notes with a silky smooth finish.