Traminette

Traminette is a hybrid white grape that brings Gewürztraminer's exotic perfume to places where Gewürztraminer itself would freeze or rot. It was crossed at the University of Illinois in 1965 and later evaluated and released by Cornell University in 1996. One parent is Gewürztraminer, and the family resemblance is obvious the moment you smell a glass. It's Indiana's official state grape, and it's grown widely in the Midwest, the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic.

What It Tastes Like

Traminette smells of lychee, rose petal, honeysuckle and apricot, with a dusting of baking spice. It has more acidity than Gewürztraminer, so it tastes fresher and livelier. Most wineries make it off-dry to balance that acid with a little sweetness, but dry and late-harvest versions are common too.

Where It Grows

Indiana made Traminette its state grape in 2009, and it's planted at wineries across the state, including the Indiana Uplands. It's also grown in Michigan (especially the Lake Michigan Shore and Fennville areas), Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, New York's Finger Lakes, Virginia and North Carolina's Yadkin Valley. It survives winters to about -15°F, much colder than its famous parent can handle.

What to Look For

• Off-dry Traminette, the classic style and a great match for spicy food.
• Dry Traminette, for an Alsace-style aromatic white.
• Late-harvest and ice wine, where its floral intensity shines.
• Sparkling Traminette, an aromatic, fun alternative to Prosecco.