Pressed from frozen grapes, ice wine is luscious and intense. Ice wine is enjoyed as a dessert, and is sweet enough to round up a meal, preferably starring foie gras and blue cheese. Accented with lychee, papaya and pineapple, it gets a whole new dimension. And added to sparkling wine or cocktails, it is a seductress.
Canada (Ice wine) and Germany (Eisewine) are the world’s largest producers of Ice wines. Ontario grows about 75 per cent of the Ice wine in Canada. The grapes are hung on their vines well – until they are frozen to -80 C and reach a minimum of 350 brix (amount of sugar) into early winter. In the cold and the fruit must be picked by hand is the Canadian law. It takes at least six hours to harvest and press the grapes – usually during the night. The labour and complex fermentation process make it expensive, but a chilled bottle of Icewine is totally worth it.
The Wine Route of Ontario
Niagara Ontario Canada boasts 25 beautiful vineyards just 15 to 20 minutes outside Niagara Falls, Canada in quiet and charming Niagara-on-the-Lake. You can find over 50 wineries in the entire Niagara wine region along the shores of Lake Ontario. The Wine Route of Ontario has the best of the region’s vineyards. Explore them through the countryside by car, bike or guided tour. This allows visitors to immerse themselves in the beauty of the countryside while indulging in the flavours of ice wine.
Team TS toured the Inniskillin winery on a crisp winter morning. And the vineyards that were full and reeked of grapes were bathed in soft sunlight. Then we tasted the first sip of iced wine, and it was love at the first sip. The first sip of iced wine delights the palate with its richness, complexity, and harmonious balance of sweetness and acidity. If Canada is on your plans this year, do tour the Niagara wine belt. You’ll thank us for the idea!
Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or just looking for a special and memorable experience, learning about ice wine and travelling along the German or Ontario wine routes will give you a newfound appreciation for this precious beverage. So, learn the secrets of ice wine, and let its sweetness whisk you away to a world of unadulterated indulgence.
Featured image source: IBYKOVA/SHUTTERSTOCK
