What is Ice Wine Exactly?
"Ice Wine," known as "Eiswein" in Germany, is essentially a sweet wine produced from grapes harvested in extremely cold weather conditions!
Canada is the world's largest producer of Ice Wine, which might actually make the Germans, who are believed to have invented it, a bit upset.
It is said that in 19th-century Germany, wines influenced by "noble rot" like Spätlese and Auslese began to emerge. Ice Wine was born during a particularly cold winter, when people initially intended to leave the "frozen" grapes on the vine as animal feed. Surprisingly, they discovered that the wine made from these "frozen" grapes was exceptionally delicious.
Later, German immigrant Walter Hainle pioneered the production of Ice Wine in Canada's Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, marking the emergence of Ice Wine as a Canadian specialty.
One of Canada's most renowned Ice Wine producers is Inniskillin Winery. Inniskillin's 1989 Vidal Ice Wine, in particular, won the London International Wine Challenge in 1991, bringing global attention to Canadian Ice Wine.
The reason why only a few countries like Canada and Germany can produce high-quality Ice Wine is primarily due to their geographical location and climate conditions.
These countries are situated at very high latitudes, which are at the borderline of suitable wine-growing regions. Additionally, they experience a continental climate where winters often drop to temperatures as low as -20 degrees Celsius (-4 degrees Fahrenheit). These extreme cold conditions are ideal for the production of Ice Wine.
Typically, grapes in the Northern Hemisphere are harvested in the late summer months of August and September. However, in Canada, grapes are left on the vines even after the onset of winter. As the temperatures drop below freezing, the water inside the grapes freezes, concentrating the sugars and flavors within. It's only after this natural freezing process that the grapes are harvested and pressed, leaving behind the highly concentrated grape juice that is used to make Ice Wine.
In a high-sugar environment, yeast struggles to complete "alcoholic fermentation" entirely, which is why Ice Wine typically has an alcohol content of only 8-10%.
It's worth noting that the grapes used to make Ice Wine aren't limited to just Riesling. Other grape varieties like Gewürztraminer, Grüner Veltliner, Vidal Blanc, and even red grape varieties like Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Sangiovese, are all possible choices for Ice Wine production.
Many people can't discern the difference between noble rot wine and Ice Wine; they both often have sweet, tropical fruit flavors.
A Master of Wine once told me that the best way to distinguish between noble rot wine and Ice Wine is this: noble rot wine has a distinctive mushroom-like aroma, while Ice Wine carries purely fruity aromas.
This distinction arises because the freezing process in Ice Wine production occurs before alcoholic fermentation, so the grapes are in a completely "healthy" state without the influence of the "noble rot" in noble rot wine.
Why is Ice Wine describe as rather costly?
Because the grapes used for Ice Wine require a significant amount of manual labor to be harvested within a few hours in temperatures as low as -7 degrees Celsius, to prevent the ripe grapes from thawing and rotting. Additionally, the high sugar content in the grapes results in a slower alcoholic fermentation process, taking 3-6 months to complete. Moreover, due to the reduced water content from freezing, each grape contributes less actual liquid, further contributing to the higher cost of Ice Wine. As a result, Ice Wine prices are never too low, and a typical 375ml bottle can cost around $30 or more.
While the sub-zero environment for making Ice Wine can be achieved through artificial means, a method known as "Cryoextraction," in countries like Germany, Hungary, Canada, and the United States renowned for Ice Wine production, in order to label a wine as "Ice Wine," the grapes must still be naturally frozen in the vineyard and harvested to ensure maximum fruit ripeness.
Ice Wine pairs exceptionally well with slightly spicy and oily savory dishes. Of course, pairing it with dessert is also a great option, as the fruity flavors and underlying high acidity of Ice Wine are accentuated when enjoyed with sweets.
