Gewurz from Traminer by Elena Walch

Gewürztraminer, Reimagined in the Alps

I’ve long held a deep affection for the Alto Adige region—its mountain air, sun-warmed vineyards, and the way its wines seem to hum with clarity and energy. For me, it’s one of the greatest white wine regions in the world, and no grape better represents the balance and verve Alto Adige can deliver than Gewürztraminer. Forget the overly perfumed, cloying styles that often define this variety elsewhere; in Alto Adige, and especially in the hands of Elena Walch, Gewürztraminer becomes something thrilling—elegant, lifted, and deeply rooted in its dramatic Alpine setting.

Elena Walch is a name I’ve admired for years. A pioneering force in the region, she helped transform Alto Adige’s wine scene through her unwavering focus on quality, sustainability, and innovation. Now guided by Julia and Karoline, the estate continues to lead with a sense of grace, precision, and modernity that shows in every bottle. Their Gewürztraminer is sourced from vineyards in Tramin—arguably the home of the grape—where limestone-rich soils and cool mountain nights bring tension and brightness to what can be a notoriously opulent variety.

In the 2023 vintage, that natural tension shines. The fruit was perfectly ripened during a warm, dry summer following a challenging spring, yielding grapes of exceptional balance and aromatic complexity. After a short skin maceration and fermentation in steel tanks, the wine was aged on the lees, adding a touch of roundness to its already vibrant frame. In the glass, it gleams golden and aromatic, bursting with notes of rose, spice, and citrus, but never tipping into excess. It’s generous, yet zippy and composed—classic Gewürztraminer, yes, but with an Alto Adige spine of freshness and minerality that keeps it focused from start to finish.

This is the kind of wine that reaffirms my belief in the region—pure, detailed, and full of personality. It’s a bottle that could only come from Alto Adige, and one that proves, once again, just how exciting this corner of Italy can be.