Ice Wine -- The Noblest Dessert Wine

Grapes frozen on the vine

Ice wine (or locally known as “Eiswein” in Germany) is a super sweet and rich dessert wine made from grapes that have frozen naturally on the vine. When these frozen grapes are pressed during the wine-making process, most of the moisture is left behind as ice. As a result, the sugar concentration becomes increasingly higher, allowing a smaller amount of more concentrated wine to be produced at the end of the process. Although it is well-rooted in Germany and Austria, ice wine is now most largely produced in Canada owing to its consistent winters.

The Legend of Ice Wine

According to legend, ice wine was believed to be first produced by a German winemaker when he accidentally left his grapes too long on the vine. For an unknown reason he was away from his vineyard and when he returned all his grapes had been frozen on the vine. When he decided to pick and process the grapes anyway, he found that the frozen grapes yielded very sweet and concentrated wine-- the first “eiswein”.

Grape Varieties Used in Ice Wine

Although the most common grapes used in the making of ice wine are Riesling, Vidal, and Cabernet Franc, many vintners are now experimenting with making ice wine from other grape varieties including Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Some wineries from the Niagara-on-the-Lake region of Ontario have even produced ice wines from Syrah, Semillon, and Sangiovese.

Characteristics of Ice Wine

Like many other dessert wines, Ice wines tend to have lower alcohol contents than regular table wines. The alcohol levels in ice wine are usually on the lower end of the spectrum, which range from 6 to 12%. Compared with German ice wines, however, Canadian ice wines tend to have higher alcohol and Brix levels. This is possibly due to the more consistent winters in Canada, particularly in the Niagara Peninsula. In fact, ice wine production in Canada is regulated by the Vintners Quality Alliance which states that a minimum of 35° Brix in grapes is required for ice wine.

Because ice wine has a very heavy concentration of sweetness and acidity, it is very refreshing. Ice wine generally has medium to full body and a long lingering finish. The typical aromas of ice wines usually tend towards the stone fruits (such as apricot and peach), pear, honey, green apple and citrus fruits, depending upon the grape varietal used. Some white varietals tend to have aromas of tropical and exotic fruits such as mango, pineapple, and lychee.

Ice Wine Pricing

Because the winter freeze needs to occur after the grapes are ripe and be cold enough for the grapes to freeze, ice wine may not be produced every year. Sometimes when a freeze is delayed, the grapes may rot or lost to wild animals. While sometimes when the freeze is too severe, little or no juice can be extracted. Due to the lower yield and difficulty of processing, ice wines are usually much pricier than table wines and are often sold in half-bottle volume of 375 ml.