Ice Wine
(11 products)
Ice wine is a rare dessert wine made from grapes left on the vine until they freeze solid in the dead of winter. Pressed while still frozen, each grape gives only a few drops of intensely sweet, concentrated juice, which is why ice wine comes in small bottles and commands a premium. Canada, led by Ontario's Niagara Peninsula, is the world's largest producer (where it is usually spelled icewine), followed by Germany, where it is called Eiswein, and a handful of cold-climate regions like Michigan and Moldova.
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True ice wine depends on the weather. In Canada, VQA rules require grapes to freeze naturally on the vine and be picked at -8°C (about 17°F) or colder, and German Eiswein must likewise be harvested and pressed while frozen. Because a cold enough night may come late in winter, or not at all, yields are tiny and the wines are made in limited quantities. The reward is a wine of luscious sweetness balanced by bright acidity, so it tastes vibrant rather than syrupy.
What to look for in Ice Wine:
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Grape variety: Vidal is the classic Canadian choice, with notes of apricot, peach and honey. Riesling brings higher acidity and citrus, and Cabernet Franc makes a rarer red ice wine with strawberry and rhubarb character.
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Origin and labeling: Look for VQA on Canadian bottles and Eiswein on German labels. Both confirm the grapes froze naturally on the vine rather than in a freezer.
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Bottle size: Most ice wines come in 375ML or 187ML bottles. A little goes a long way, and a 375ML bottle pours about six dessert servings.
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Serving: Serve chilled in small glasses, on its own as dessert or with blue cheese, foie gras, fruit tarts and cheesecake.
Ice wine makes a memorable gift and a perfect finish to a special dinner. Producers like Inniskillin, Jackson-Triggs and Equifera represent the Canadian tradition, while German Eiswein offers a Riesling-driven take on the style. For more sweet and fortified wines, explore the full Dessert Wines range.
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