For a while I’ve been quite a Gewürztraminer fan. I love the first nose from the glass: a heady perfume of roses, and sometimes a touch of tropical lychee.

It makes me think of piles of baby pink Turkish delight and rose water. And although it has this sweetish smell, it delivers a lovely floral and slightly dry taste with a golden straw colour. I was first introduced to it in the north of Spain at Torres, but locally I enjoy the Gewürztraminer offerings by Simonsig, Weltevrede and Paul Cluver.

It’s said that this wine varietal fares nicely with Asian food, so I tried it out on some sweet and sour pork. Our local Chinese takeaway isn’t marvellous, but they seem to get their batter crispy and light, which coats the soft cubes of pork without being too soggy.

Next time you have a roasted Eisbein or gammon, or maybe even a croque monsieur, try a chilled glass of Gewürztraminer. It’s also a great cheese wine, and stands out when paired with gorgonzola and a creamy brie.

Any excuse for a cheese platter!

Abigail