What’s the about

By Martine Mackenzie

People come from all over the world for Niagara Ice Wine. They can’t wait to try it whether it’s as an after-dinner sipping drink or poured over ice cream.

Ice wine is very popular here in Niagara, largely because the viticultural terroir in the region is so conducive to the production of this luxurious beverage.

Canada, particularly the Niagara Peninsula consistently undergoes freezing in winter and has become the world’s largest ice wine producer. As a result, Canada produces a greater volume of ice wine than all other countries combined. Approximately 90 per cent of all ice wine produced in Canada originate from Ontario based wineries.

So, let’s find out just what all the fuss is about.

What is ice wine?

Ice wine is a type of dessert wine produced from grapes that have been frozen while still on the vine. The sugars and other dissolved solids do not freeze, but the water does, allowing for a more concentrated grape juice to develop. The grapes’ must is then pressed from the frozen grapes, resulting in a smaller amount of more concentrated, very sweet juice.

Why is ice wine so expensive?

Ice wine production is risky (the frost may not come at all before the grapes rot or are otherwise lost) and requires the availability of a large enough labour force to pick the whole crop within a few hours, at a moment’s notice, on the first morning that is cold enough. The grapes for ice wine must only be harvested when they are frozen naturally and the temperature must be -8 C (20°F) or below when they are picked. This results in relatively small amounts of ice wine being made worldwide, making ice wines generally expensive.

What’s the history of ice wine in Niagara?

In 1983, Niagara-based wineries Inniskillin and Reif Estate Winery, as well as Hillebrand, and Pelee Island Winery, two wineries with Austrian winemakers situated in another part of Ontario, all left grapes on their vines in an attempt to produce ice wine. Inniskillin and Reif lost their entire crop to hungry birds, while Hillebrand and Pelee Island were able to harvest a minuscule amount of frozen grapes. In 1984, Inniskillin winery was the first winery in Canada to produce ice wine for commercial purposes, produced in 1984 under the direction of the winery’s Austrian-born coowner Karl Kaiser often being mentioned as Canada’s first ice wine. Kaiser used nets to protect his vines and was able to produce Inniskillin’s first ice wine. This wine was made from Vidal grapes and was labelled “Eiswein”.

What are the best grapes for ice wine?

Typical grapes used for ice wine production are Rielsing, considered to be the noblest variety by German winemakers; Vidal, highly popular in Ontario, Canada; and the red grape Cabernet Franc. Many vintners, especially from the New World, are experimenting with making ice wine from other varieties: whites such as Seyval Blanc, Chardonnay, Kerner, Gewürstraminer, Muscat Ottonel, Chenin blanc, Pinot blanc, and Ehrenfelser; or reds such as Merlot, Pinot Noir, and even Cabernet Sauvignon. Pillitteri Estates Winery from the Niagara-on-the-Lake region of Ontario claims to be the first winery in the world producing Shiraz (Syrah) ice wine with the 2004 vintage, Semillion, and Sangiovese in 2007.

Ice wines from white varieties tend to be pale yellow or light gold in color when they are young and can maderise (acquiring a deep amber-golden color) as they age. The red varieties tend to have a light burgundy or even pink color like that of rosé wines, since the steeping of the skins in the pressed liquid typically used in red wine making is obviously not possible in ice wine production.

And of course, there is the annual Ice Wine Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake!

This is where the above-mentioned wineries along with many others, bring their wares for tasting all along Queen Street in Niagara-on-the-Lake for several weeks during the month of January.

In 2024, the event will take place January 12-14, 19-21, & 26-28. Niagara Ice Wine Festival

Where can I get the best ice wine in Niagara?

As is everything in life, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Wine choices and preferences are something very personal and very subjective. But, we certainly can recommend some of the best that you can find here in Niagara in no particular order:

1.

Known for their delicious Ice Cuvée. peller.com

2. Konzelmann Estate Winery

Niagara’s only lake-front winery, it specializes in Vidal ice wine. konzelmann.ca

3. Château des Charmes

Makes some of the best Vidal ice wine in Canada. It’s literally award-winning. chateaudescharmes.com

4. Wayne Gretzky Estate Winery

Yes, the “Great One” has a winery! A visit here is a must to try their Cabernet Franc icewine. waynegretzkyestates.com

5. Reif Estate

Known for its Vidal! reifwinery.com

6. Inniskillin Wines at the Brae Burn Estate

The pioneer in the icewine industry! Their Riesling varieties are incomparable AND they host icewine experiences every weekend! inniskillin.com