Quote:
Originally posted by Penske_Account
Icewine, or Eiswein, originated in Franconia, Germany in 1794. Grapes were left on the vines until the first deep frost, and the freeze/thaw cycles that occurred concentrated both the sugars and flavors of the grapes. The process was refined, and now icewines are highly prized drinks that are created in Germany, Austria, and Canada. The Niagara region of Ontario, Canada is currently the most widely respected producer of ice wines.
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Or to expand on Penske's point,
Icewine, or Eiswein, originated in Franconia, Germany in 1794. Grapes were left on the vines until the first deep frost, and the freeze/thaw cycles that occurred concentrated both the sugars and flavors of the grapes. The process was refined, and now icewines are highly prized drinks that are created in Germany, Austria, and Canada. The Niagara region of Ontario, Canada is currently the most widely respected producer of Icewines.
Icewine, properly created, must follow VQA (Vintners Quality Alliance) regulations to ensure a quality product. Key amongst these rules is that the wine must be naturally produced - no artificial freezing allowed. This makes Icewine very difficult to create - grapes must be guarded against extreme temperatures, and because they are the last grapes on the vines, they must be defended vigorously against birds and other animals.
As in all harvests, the exact moment of harvest is extremely important for Icewine. Ideally, the temperature should get to -10°C to -13°C before picking. This provides the optimum level of sugar and flavour in the grapes. This chart shows how sugar varies with the temperature:
Sugar Levels
Temperature Sugar Content
-6°C 29%
-7°C 33%
-8°C 36%
-9°C 36%
-10°C 43%
-11°C 46%
-12°C 49%
-13°C 52%
-14°C 56%
When the grapes are just right, they're carefully picked by hand. Grapes in this condition have a very low yield - often an entire vine only makes a single bottle. That's why ice wine can be so expensive and is often sold in half-bottles only, but it's worth it!
Icewine is typically made of Vidal and Riesling grapes. After this long harvest process, the grapes go through weeks of fermentation, followed by a few months of barrel aging. The wine ends up a golden colour, or a deep, rich amber. It has a very sweet (of course) taste. The flavour is a combination of apricot, peach, mango, melon or other sweet fruits. There is often a nutty smell to it as well. It is usually served as a dessert wine, chilled for one or two hours before serving. It is usually served in small cordial glasses in one ounce servings.
TM
http://www.winesofcanada.com/icewine.html
