A lesser known delicacy of the wine world, ice wine is rich with both flavor and history.
Ice wine, also known as "Eiswein" in German, is a type of dessert wine that is produced from grapes that have been frozen on the vine. This wine is known for its rich, complex flavors and its high level of sweetness. In this post, we'll explore the history, production process, and unique characteristics of ice wine.
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History of Ice Wine
Ice wine has been produced in Germany since at least the 18th century. A particularly harsh winter left winemakers with nothing but frozen grapes to use in their production. This marked the beginnings of modern ice wine production.
Fast-forward to the 1970s, when a German citizen by the name of Walter Hainle traveled to Okanagan Valley in British Columbia to establish a vineyard for the production of ice wine.
Since then, ice wine production has become popular in other cold-climate wine regions such as parts of the United States and Austria. While Germany is credited with the founding of modern ice wine production, Canada has taken over as the largest producer worldwide.
Characteristics of Ice Wine
Only specific types of grapes can be used in the production of ice wine. Cabernet Franc, Riesling and Vidal Blanc (amongst others) are commonly used since they are hardier grapes that can withstand the colder temperatures / freezing without rotting.
Ice wine is known for its high level of sweetness, which is balanced by its high acidity. The sweetness comes from the high concentration of natural sugars in the frozen grapes, which are not fully fermented during the winemaking process. The acidity helps to balance out the sweetness, giving the wine a crisp, refreshing taste.
Ice wine is also known for its complex flavors and aromas. Depending on the grape variety and the winemaking process, ice wine can have notes of honey, apricot, peach, tropical fruit, and even spices such as cinnamon and ginger.
The alcohol content of ice wine can vary, however the average bottle tend to hover around 10% abv.
The Production Process
The key to producing ice wine is harvesting grapes that have been naturally frozen on the vine. Any wine made from commercially frozen grapes does not qualify as ice wine and must instead be labeled "Iced Wine" or simply "Dessert Wine".
The grapes must be picked at the right time, typically in the early hours of the morning when the temperature is below freezing, to ensure that they are fully frozen. Once the grapes are harvested, they are immediately pressed, while still frozen, to extract the juice. This process is known as cryoextraction, and it allows the wine to be made with a high concentration of sugar, acidity, and flavor compounds.
A reason for ice wines being expensive has to do with the volume of grapes required per bottle. Since the process uses frozen grapes, the crushing process is only capable of extracting 10%-20% of the juice from each grape. This means that a bottle of ice wine requires four to five times more grapes to produced when compared to other traditional wines.
After the juice is extracted, it is fermented slowly at a low temperature to preserve the natural flavors and aromas of the grapes. The fermentation process can take several months to complete, and the resulting wine is typically aged for a year or more before it is bottled and sold.
Conclusion
Ice wine is a unique and delicious type of dessert wine that is produced from grapes that have been frozen on the vine. Its high level of sweetness and complex flavors make it a popular choice for special occasions and dessert pairings.
Even though it is produced in relatively small quantities and can be expensive, ice wine is definitely worth trying for anyone who enjoys dessert wines or wants to explore a lesser known wine delicacy. While some decent ice wines can be found around the $30 mark, you should realistically expect to pay $50 or more for a good bottle.
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