Gewürztraminer is an aromatic white grape variety most famously associated with Alsace, France, that produces intensely perfumed wines with distinctive spicy, floral, and exotic fruit characteristics including rose petals, lychee, ginger, and tropical fruits. The grape's naturally low acidity and tendency toward higher alcohol levels create rich, full-bodied wines that can range from bone dry to lusciously sweet, with the best examples balancing the variety's exuberant aromatics with enough structure to pair beautifully with spicy Asian cuisine, rich cheeses, and foie gras. While Alsace remains the benchmark region, Gewürztraminer thrives in cool climates worldwide including Germany's Pfalz, Italy's Alto Adige, and select sites in Washington State and New Zealand, though it requires careful vineyard management and winemaking to prevent the wines from becoming overly heavy or losing their essential aromatic intensity.