Although gewürztraminer is unique with its exotic lychee perfumes and oily texture, it is not renowned for its drinkability. Many Alsatian bottles are too cloying to attract lasting interest, as they don’t tell you the sweetness on the label. They are often low in acidity, and a lot of them are medium-dry and high in alcohol. Some have a phenolic bitterness at the end.

But fear not because you can find high quality gewürztraminer wines if you look elsewhere. Around the alleged hometown of the variety (Tramin) in the Italian and German-speaking Alto Adige (aka South Tyrol or Sudtirol for German speakers), you’ll find much drier (many bone-dry), crunchier and more drinkable gewürztraminer in amongst the other excellent, great-value white wines, ranging from pinot grigio, pinot bianco, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and riesling.

Alto Adige has a rugged, mountainous landscape where vines thrive on steep hillsides. It offers spectacular views (see our documentary on Alto Adige directed by James Orr), leaving visitors in awe. And yet for vignerons it be a frustrating environment, requiring commitment and effort. But large diurnal differences in temperature here mean the phenolic flavors and acidity of the grapes are kept in balance, forging a harmony between freshness and ripeness in the final wine. Many gewürztraminer wines from here exude stunning tropical fruit notes (mango, papaya, dried pineapple, kumquat and lychee) with perfumed rose petals, and cinnamon spices on the nose. This might convince you the wine is sweet, until you try it on the palate and find it pleasantly dry.

Despite high-quality whites across the board, Alto Adige still has a relatively low profile. The influential co-ops here only distribute the wines on a regional scale, resulting in less representation outside Italy and Austria. Only recently have we seen some of the quality producers stepping out of their comfort zone to reach new markets. Lots of their wines are excellent quality but moderately priced, offering a great quality to price ratio.

Out of many great producers, we have selected the following six wines under $30, although the list could go on. Elena Walch, St. Michael-Eppan and Colterenzio are among the best names for excellent gewürztraminer.

With its richness and round palate, gewürztraminer is also a great companion to intensely flavored Asian foods such as Indian, Thai and some Chinese cuisines. The wine goes well with food rich in exotic spices. With its tropical fruit profile, refreshing elements and crisp acidity, it can be an ideal sip for summer as well. See our high-value flight below.