What is icewine?

A miracle born of chance and nature

When you think of Canada, you often hear about ice wine, but some people may wonder, is icewine just frozen wine? Ice wine is a sweet wine made from naturally frozen grapes. It has a rich flavor and elegant sweetness, and even people who don't like wine can enjoy it as a dessert wine.
In 1794, an extreme cold wave hit the vineyards of a monastery in the Franconian region of Germany.
Instead of throwing away the frozen grapes, they tried making wine from them, and the result was a very sweet wine with a rich aroma.
This wine, which would not have been produced if it weren't for the unexpected cold wave, has been called the "miracle wine."
This coincidence led to the creation of ice wine, which at the time was a rare drink only available to the nobility.

 

 

The secret behind the rarity and sweetness of ice wine

Pressed immediately after harvest at -8℃

The grapes used for ice wine ripen completely on the vine, so they are not picked until the weather gets cold, even in September when they are harvested. This causes a lot of damage from birds, insects, and moles, and many farms are forced to reduce their yields.

For the grapes to freeze, the temperature needs to drop below -8°C. Once the grapes are frozen, they are harvested all at once in the early hours of the morning in the middle of winter, and the juice is pressed while still frozen.

Just about a spoonful

Only about one teaspoon of juice can be extracted from one frozen bunch of grapes.
Compared to regular grapes, it produces only about one-tenth to one-twentieth of the water, so about 10 to 20 times more grapes are needed than for regular wine.

Sugar content must be 35 degrees or more 
In addition, the minimum sugar content of the fruit juice must be 35 degrees or more for it to be recognized as ice wine, and this is a globally strict standard.

 

 

Only three countries in the world can call their wine ice wine

Only three countries can officially produce ice wine: Germany, Austria, and Canada. Canada is currently the world's largest producer of ice wine, as it has the most suitable terroir (environment) for producing ice wine.

Icewine is extremely valuable due to the small amount produced under harsh labor conditions. The wine made by carefully fermenting this precious juice has an exquisite balance of acidity and sweetness, resulting in a luxurious taste that is like putting fully ripe grapes in your mouth.

 

How to choose ice wine

◆Select by variety

You can choose between red and white icewine. Icewine made from red grapes is very rare, as it is generally made from white grapes. There are also icewines that are a blend of red and white, so you can enjoy comparing the different flavors.

The three main grape varieties used to make Canadian ice wine are Vidal, Riesling, and Cabernet Franc.

・Vidal
A variety mainly grown in Canada. It has a taste of tropical fruits such as apple mango and honey. Its thick skin and strong cold resistance make it suitable for ice wine.

・Riesling
A popular variety in Canada and Germany. It has a good balance of sweetness and sourness, and a taste reminiscent of green apples and citrus. Its clean sweetness makes it a great choice for those who like white wine.

・Cabernet Franc
A popular variety for red wine. It is red like strawberries and has a flavor of berries and cherries. It has a rich sweetness like strawberry jam. Recommended for those who like red wine and sweet wine.

 

How to enjoy ice wine