Amélie & Charles Sparr Gewürztraminer 2020: An Alsatian White with an Exuberant Temperament
Gewürztraminer has never been a grape for shy, retiring wines. Its extravagant perfume can be irresistible, but when ripeness gets out of hand, the result is a thick, alcoholic white with all the subtlety of a bottle of rosewater. Amélie and Charles Sparr’s 2020 avoids that trap rather convincingly.
Produced from organically cultivated vineyards around Sigolsheim, this Alsatian Gewürztraminer is opulent, spicy and intensely fragrant. Lychee and rose petals dominate the bouquet, followed by ripe tropical fruit and a warm, exotic spice character. The palate is broad and almost voluptuous, although the vintage brings enough freshness to prevent the wine from becoming ponderous.
At 14.5% alcohol, this is hardly a lightweight white. Fortunately, its richness comes with sufficient aromatic precision to make that considerable weight enjoyable.
The Basics
- Producer: Domaine Amélie & Charles Sparr
- Wine: Alsace Gewürztraminer
- Vintage: 2020
- Appellation: Alsace AOP
- Region: Alsace, France
- Village: Sigolsheim, Haut-Rhin
- Grape: 100% Gewürztraminer
- Viticulture: Organic
- Soils: Stony vineyard soils
- Vinification: Gentle pressing and temperature-controlled stainless-steel fermentation
- Ageing: On fine lees in stainless steel
- Alcohol: 14.5% ABV
- Bottle size: 750 ml
- Serving temperature: 10–12°C
The Estate and Its Vineyards
Amélie and Charles Sparr work in Wettolsheim, near Colmar, in a region where family names and vineyard boundaries can carry centuries of history. Charles comes from one of Alsace’s established winegrowing families, but the couple have developed their own identity through organic and biodynamic viticulture and a distinctly contemporary approach to traditional Alsatian varieties.
Their Gewürztraminer 2020 comes from vineyards around Sigolsheim, north of Colmar, where stony soils and the region’s dry, sheltered climate encourage grapes to reach considerable aromatic maturity.
Alsace enjoys a privileged position in the rain shadow of the Vosges Mountains. Warm summers allow the grapes to ripen fully, while cooler autumn conditions can preserve freshness and extend the growing season.
For Gewürztraminer, however, ripeness is a double-edged sword. The variety naturally produces wines with extravagant aromatics, relatively modest acidity and considerable alcoholic strength. Harvest too late, and even an impressive bouquet may struggle to compensate for a flabby palate.
The Sparrs’ 2020 has plenty of weight, but its fresher vintage character provides a useful counterpoint to the grape’s natural exuberance.
Unlike the delicate, incisive profile of Alsatian Riesling, this is a wine built around perfume, texture and spice.
How It’s Made
The grapes are grown organically near Sigolsheim and undergo gentle pressing before fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks.
The wine subsequently matures on its fine lees, gaining a rounder texture without the aromatic interference of oak.
This is a sensible approach to such an expressive variety. Gewürztraminer already possesses an extraordinary range of floral, fruity and spicy aromas; new oak would risk turning that abundance into an exhausting competition for attention.
Lees ageing contributes a little softness and volume, allowing the wine to develop a broad, enveloping palate while preserving its recognisable varietal character.
The result is a classic Alsatian interpretation rather than the more experimental, tannic expression found in the estate’s skin-contact Farouche.
For a broader understanding of the region’s grape varieties and contrasting styles, our Alsace wine guide explores the remarkable diversity of these vineyards.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Brilliant golden yellow, with an attractive depth that hints at the wine’s substantial concentration.
Bouquet: An expansive, almost theatrical perfume of lychee, rose petals and ripe passion fruit. Cardamom introduces a warm, exotic spiciness, while hints of ginger and candied citrus lend definition. The floral intensity is unmistakable, but there is more to the nose than sheer aromatic volume: the spice gives it an intriguing, slightly pungent edge.
Palate: Full-bodied, creamy and emphatically rich. Ripe tropical fruit fills the mouth, followed by rose, sweet spices and a faintly bitter citrus note. The alcohol provides considerable warmth, though it never entirely overwhelms the fruit. Acidity is moderate rather than incisive, so the wine relies on its spicy character and gentle bitterness to prevent the texture from becoming excessively soft. This is a sumptuous, unapologetically powerful Gewürztraminer.
Finish: Long, warm and aromatic, with lingering lychee, cardamom and rose. A subtle spicy bitterness keeps the final impression from becoming cloying.
Our Verdict
Amélie & Charles Sparr Gewürztraminer 2020 is a splendidly aromatic white, rich in personality and blessed with a formidable bouquet. The palate is powerful and undeniably alcoholic, but the spicy finish gives its opulence some welcome definition.
It will delight anyone who loves the more voluptuous side of Alsace. Drinkers accustomed to the bracing acidity of Riesling may find it rather extravagant, but asking Gewürztraminer to behave like Riesling would be missing the point entirely.
Price
€17.00.
Food Pairings
Paella, vitello tonnato, chicken curry, pulled pork, empanadas, hamburgers.
