Geh-VURTS-trah-mee-ner. Get to know it, because once you've ordered it once, you'll order it again.
What Is Gewürztraminer and why is it so hard to find?
The variety is originally from the Alsace region of northeastern France and in Alto Adige, northern Italy, where the Traminer family of grapes has ancient roots. It is defined by an almost overwhelmingly expressive aromatic profile: lychee, rose petal, ginger, white pepper, orange zest. In the glass, it’s usually a deeper gold than most whites. On the palate, the finest examples are bone-dry but lusciously textured.
That bone-dry style is what we make at Topper’s Mountain. This is not the semi-sweet, floral perfume bomb that put some drinkers off Gewürztraminer in the 1990s. This is a serious, structured, dry wine with all the aromatic fireworks of the variety and the backbone to carry them.
Great Gewürztraminer is rare in Australia because it needs cool nights to preserve its aromatics, a slow ripening season to develop complexity, and free-draining soils that stress the vines into producing concentrated fruit. This climate is uncommon in Australia. But our conditions at Topper’s Mountain are perfect for Gewürztraminer, and the results are spectacular.
High altitude, red soil
The Topper’s Mountain vineyard sits 900 metres above sea level on the western edge of the New England Tablelands, north of Tingha near Inverell. This makes us among the highest vineyard altitudes in New South Wales, and keeps maximum temperatures well below what you’d expect at this latitude (29.5°S, which is further north than almost any other serious Australian wine region). The temperature never reaches 40°C at the vineyard. Nights are cold. Growing seasons are long and cool.
The soils (red ferrosols) are deep, free-draining, ancient red volcanic basalt with a high iron content. That’s why the land has its characteristic burnt-ochre colour. Those soils drain beautifully after rain, preventing waterlogged roots, and their mineral richness translates directly into the wines.
Tasting the 2023 Topper’s Mountain Gewürztraminer
The 2023 Gewürztraminer announces itself with authority. The colour is a deep, luminous straw-gold that signals the seriousness of what’s coming. On the nose, the characteristic lychee and rose petal aromatics of the variety are present and vivid, accompanied by a spicy ginger note and a thread of orange zest that adds freshness.
The palate is bone-dry and beautifully textured — full-bodied for a white wine, with a coating quality that fills the mouth without heaviness. Flavours carry through from the nose: lychee, spice, dried rose, and a mineral quality on the finish that reflects the volcanic soils and keeps the wine fresh and lively. The finish is long and surprisingly structured, with an acidity that provides direction and makes the next sip genuinely inviting.
This Gewürztraminer captures the essence of Topper’s Mountain and the personality of the variety itself. From vineyard to bottle, every step is focused on balancing natural aromatics and texture with freshness and elegance. An expressive and complex wine, perfectly suited to vibrant cuisine.
Pairing Gewürztraminer: Spice, Seafood & Asian Cuisines
Gewürztraminer’s aromatic intensity, textured body, and low bitterness make it one of the best white wines to pair with spiced, asian and aromatic cuisines. Where many whites wilt against chilli, ginger, or lemongrass, Gewürztraminer holds its ground — amplifying the the food.
Standout pairings for Topper’s Mountain Gewürztraminer:
- Thai green curry with prawns or scallops — the coconut and lemongrass combination sings against the wine’s floral, spiced character
- Vietnamese pho — star anise, cinnamon, ginger: every spice in the broth finds its match in the wine
- Spicy Indian curries— the wine’s spice note and textured body handle cream and aromatic spicing with ease
- Japanese teriyaki chicken or pork belly — the sweet-savoury glaze plays beautifully against the wine’s stone fruit and ginger tones
- Alsatian choucroute garnie — the classic regional pairing, if you want to go full French: slow-cooked sauerkraut with smoked pork and sausage
- Soft, washed-rind cheese — Munster, Époisses, or Taleggio, with the wine cutting through the pungency while matching the intensity
The wine’s food-matching versatility extends to less obvious pairings too. Roast pork with apple and fennel, slow-cooked duck with plum sauce, and even a well-constructed cheese board all benefit from a glass of cool-climate Gewürztraminer alongside.
Mike Bennie, The Wine Front
“Exceptional wine. So much spice, exotic in nature, akin with white vermouth almost, yet gentle, subtle honeyed sweetness too. Ripe lime, a lick of truffle, some sage leaf, a bit of pine needle and some alpine herbs in the mix too. Lighter weight texture than one would expect, crispness too, yet that suggestion of breathiness that some good gewurz hold true. Extreme persistence. Outstanding. Such character and deliciousness.” 95 / 100
https://toppers.com.au/wine/gewurztraminer/52622/ It is individually bottled in small quantities — stock is limited each vintage.
Exploring aromatic whites from Topper’s Mountain? Viognier from the Keeper range offers a different but equally compelling aromatic experience. And the Manseng — a rare white from south-west France — is another expression of just how extraordinary this site’s white wines can be. All wines can be explored and purchased at the Topper’s Mountain shop.
