Comparison
Chardonnay vs Gewürztraminer
How Chardonnay and Gewürztraminer differ, dimension by dimension.
The short answer
Chardonnay and Gewürztraminer come from the same country but sit in different territory. The main differences: Gewürztraminer has more floral character; Gewürztraminer has more sweetness; Chardonnay has more acidity.
Where they genuinely differ
Only differences large enough to notice in the glass are listed here. A gap of half a point on a five-point scale is noise, and WineHQ does not dress it up as a finding.
Floral character
Clear differenceBlossom, rose, violet, elderflower, acacia and related aromatic notes.
Gewürztraminer is more floral: high against low-medium.
Sweetness
Clear differencePerceived sugar in the finished wine, driven mainly by residual sugar but modified by acidity, alcohol and fruit ripeness.
Gewürztraminer is sweeter: medium against low.
Acidity
Clear differenceTotal perceived acidity. Rises in cooler climates and with earlier picking; falls with heat and ripeness.
Chardonnay is fresher and more acidic: medium-plus against low-medium.
Fruit intensity
Clear differenceHow loudly the fruit flavours speak, independent of whether they are ripe or tart.
Gewürztraminer is fruitier: high against medium.
Aromatic intensity
Clear differenceHow strongly the wine smells before it is tasted. Some grapes are intrinsically aromatic; others express mainly on the palate.
Gewürztraminer is more aromatic: high against medium.
Oak influence
Clear differencePerceptible impact of barrel or alternative oak contact — vanilla, toast, coconut, smoke, cedar and added texture.
Chardonnay is more oaky: medium against low.
Where they are much the same
Just as useful: knowing which parts of the choice do not matter.
- Tannin: Similar — both low.
- Body: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Herbal / green character: Similar — both low.
- Earthy character: Similar — both low.
- Carbonation: Similar — both low.
Full side by side
| Dimension | Chardonnay | Gewürztraminer |
|---|---|---|
| Floral character | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Sweetness | low (1/5) | typically medium, ranging from low to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Acidity | typically medium-plus, ranging from low-medium to high (4/5) | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) |
| Fruit intensity | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Aromatic intensity | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Oak influence | typically medium, ranging from low to high (3/5) | low (1/5) |
| Spice | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Perceived freshness | typically medium-plus, ranging from low-medium to high (4/5) | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) |
| Alcohol | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Savoury character | typically medium, ranging from low to medium-plus (3/5) | low-medium (2/5) |
| Tannin | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Body | typically medium-plus, ranging from low-medium to high (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Herbal / green character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Earthy character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Carbonation | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Texture | typically medium-plus, ranging from low-medium to high (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Serve at | 12–15°C | 10–13°C |
| Typical flavours | green apple, lemon, white peach, pineapple, hazelnut | lychee, rose petal, ginger, orange blossom, allspice |
Values are typical points within each wine’s range. Both wines vary — see the individual pages for how much.
Read more
Grape
Chardonnay
The most adaptable white grape in the world, and the one most often blamed for what winemakers do to it.
Grape
Gewürztraminer
The most unmistakably aromatic white variety: lychee, rose and ginger, with low acidity and often a touch of sweetness.
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