Fenn Valley 42 Ice Wine 375ML

Fenn Valley 42 Ice Wine 375ML is a Vidal Blanc dessert wine from Michigan's Lake Michigan Shore AVA, bottled at 10.5% ABV in a 375ml half-bottle. With an average score of 89.1 points across 41 community reviews on CellarTracker, it stands as one of the more critically recognized American ice wines at its price tier.

Quick Facts: ABV: 10.5%  |  Origin: Lake Michigan Shore, Michigan  |  Style: Ice Wine  |  Varietal: Vidal Blanc  |  Winery: Fenn Valley Vineyards

Production & Heritage

Fenn Valley Vineyards operates in the Lake Michigan Shore American Viticultural Area, a region where lake-effect weather creates the sustained freezing temperatures essential for ice wine production. The 42 Ice Wine is produced using the traditional method pioneered in Germany: Vidal Blanc grapes are left on the vine until they freeze naturally, concentrating sugars, acids, and flavor compounds before pressing. The resulting juice yields far less volume than conventional winemaking, which accounts for both the intensity of the wine and the standard half-bottle format. Vidal Blanc is the dominant ice wine grape in North American production due to its thick skin and resistance to harsh winter conditions, and Fenn Valley's expression leans into the variety's tropical and stone fruit character.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe peach and mango lead the nose, followed by honeycomb sweetness and a subtle undercurrent of pineapple. The aromatics are generous and immediately signal the wine's dessert-level concentration.

Taste: The entry is silky and viscous, with ripe stone fruit—peach and apricot—dominating the early palate. Mid-palate, tropical mango and baked apple emerge alongside a layered honey sweetness. The wine carries significant residual sugar, and while acidity provides some structural counterbalance, this is unambiguously a sweet, fruit-forward dessert wine.

Finish: Medium-long, with lingering honey and dried apricot notes that taper gradually. The texture remains smooth and almost syrup-like through the close, leaving a warm stone fruit impression.

How to Drink Fenn Valley 42 Ice Wine

Serve well chilled, between 43–47°F (6–8°C), in a small tulip-shaped glass to concentrate the aromatics. This wine is best enjoyed on its own as a dessert course or as an accompaniment to rich dishes. A Bellini-style sparkling cocktail works well, with the ice wine replacing traditional peach purée for added depth. It also shines in an Ice Wine Spritzer with chilled soda water and a lemon twist, cutting the sweetness while preserving the fruit. For a winter variation, try it in a warm Mulled Ice Wine with cinnamon and star anise, where its concentrated sugars hold up to gentle heating.

Best For

• Capping a dinner party with a standalone dessert wine course
• Gifting wine enthusiasts curious about American ice wine
• Pairing alongside a holiday cheese and fruit board
• Introducing someone to the ice wine category at an accessible price point

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Fenn Valley 42 Ice Wine taste like? It is a very sweet, viscous dessert wine dominated by ripe peach, mango, apricot, and honey flavors, with a smooth, silky texture and a medium-long finish.

How does Fenn Valley 42 compare to Inniskillin Vidal Icewine? Both are made from the Vidal Blanc grape using traditional frozen-on-the-vine methods, but Inniskillin hails from Canada's Niagara Peninsula and typically carries a significantly higher price. Fenn Valley's Michigan-grown expression is widely noted as a more affordable entry point into the ice wine category while still delivering genuine concentration and fruit intensity.

Is Fenn Valley 42 Ice Wine good for beginners? Yes—its approachable sweetness and familiar fruit flavors (peach, mango, honey) make it an excellent introduction to ice wine for drinkers who enjoy dessert-style wines or sweet cocktails.

Where is Fenn Valley 42 Ice Wine made? It is produced by Fenn Valley Vineyards, located in the Lake Michigan Shore AVA in southwestern Michigan, a region whose proximity to Lake Michigan creates the cold winters necessary for natural ice wine production.

What foods pair well with Fenn Valley 42 Ice Wine? Blue cheese and aged Stilton complement the wine's sweetness with savory contrast. Fruit tarts and peach cobbler echo the stone fruit notes. Crème brûlée matches its honeyed richness. Foie gras or duck liver pâté creates a classic sweet-savory pairing. Fresh tropical fruit—particularly mango and pineapple—mirrors the wine's primary flavor profile.

What sizes does Fenn Valley 42 Ice Wine come in? It is available in a 375ml (half-bottle) format, which is the industry standard for ice wines due to the low yield of the production process.

Is Fenn Valley 42 Ice Wine worth the price? It positions as a value-oriented ice wine, often noted by reviewers as delivering genuine ice wine quality at a fraction of the cost of Canadian or European counterparts, making it one of the more accessible options in the category.

Why Fenn Valley 42 Ice Wine?

Authentic ice wine—made from grapes that freeze naturally on the vine—remains one of the most labor-intensive and weather-dependent styles in all of winemaking, which is why most bottles carry a premium price. Fenn Valley's 42 Ice Wine delivers that genuine production pedigree from one of Michigan's established Lake Michigan Shore vineyards, yet consistently undercuts the price of its Canadian and German competitors. Its 89.1-point average on CellarTracker from over 40 reviews reflects a wine that earns repeat attention from serious dessert wine drinkers. For anyone seeking a concentrated, honey-drenched Vidal Blanc ice wine without the sticker shock of an imported bottle, this Michigan expression makes a compelling case.