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Gonzales Wine Company 2023 ALAD Vineyard Gewürztraminer
Elevating the Overlooked
She was backpacking her way through Mendoza, Argentina, when Cristina Gonzales found her passion for wine. It was a perfect bottle of Malbec alongside an Argentinian steak that sparked a realization that wine would be her future.
She joined the wine industry in 2006 and quickly gained hands-on experience working harvests in California, Oregon, Tasmania, and Australia. As a winemaker, she celebrates the unusual, and the rare, lifting up unheralded grapes that others might overlook.
Cristina comes from a long line of farm workers who tended fields with their hands. She is the granddaughter of migrant farm workers from Texas, who found their way to Wisconsin to pick cherries in search of a better life.
Consequently, she is just as passionate about empowering vineyard workers in Oregon – without whom we would not have Oregon wine. She’s now on the board of the nonprofit AHIVOY, an organization that seeks to help vineyard workers gain the education and support they need to advance in the wine industry.
Cellar 503 Tasting Notes
Gonzales Wine Company, Portland, Oregon
2023 ALAD Vineyard Gewürztraminer
Geh-VURTS-Trah-Mee-Nur
Gewurztraminer OR - Willamette Valley - Eola - Amity Hills
This Gewürtztraminer is a one of a kind. Intenttionally unfined and unfiltered - it is bright and welcoming with a lychee & fruit-laden nose of honeyed pear, peach blossom, and apricot. This luscious aromatic profile is swept away by a surgical acidity to the palate with granny smith apple and lemon rind, making the mouth water. The finish leaves a tingle on the tip of the tongue of unripe kiwi and tart pomelo citrus.
13% Alcohol
Fun Facts
Gewürztraminer is a highly aromatic, pink-skinned grape known for producing intensely perfumed white wines with signature lychee, rose, and ginger notes. Originating from the Alps and often linked to Italy's Alto Adige region, its name literally translates to "Spicy Traminer" from German.
The "Smell" Test: It is famous for its distinct aroma, dominated by lychee, along with intense floral notes of roses, lavender, and spicy undertones of ginger and cinnamon.
It’s a "Noble" Grape: Despite not being as popular as Chardonnay, it is recognized as one of the 18 Noble Grapes of the world, recognized for its quality and superiority.
It’s Very Fast to Ripen: The vines are early-budding but ripen very quickly, meaning they prefer cooler climates to prevent the sugar from getting too high before the flavors develop.
Perfect Pairings: Due to its aromatic nature, it is arguably the best wine to pair with aromatic, pungent foods like Munster cheese, spicy Thai cuisine, or foie gras.
A Cellar 503 selection in March 2026, 2026 Women in Wine Eola-Amity Hills | Gewürztraminer
