icewine
PLAN YOUR GETAWAY
Icewine. Where do we start?
Icewine is the wine that made the international wine world sit up and take notice of what we were doing here in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Elegant, silky, lush, decadent – wine critics wear out thesauruses describing Icewine. It’s ambrosia of the gods. Year after year, the Icewines made by the Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake take the top awards at competitions around the globe. We don’t mean to sound immodest, but it’s an achievement we’re very proud of.
Icewine makes us grateful for the frigid winter temperatures that we endure for a few days each winter. A true Icewine can only be made from grapes that have naturally frozen on the vine and picked when the thermometer dips to -8° C (or lower). The solidly frozen grapes are handpicked and pressed immediately to gently release a single drop of thick, rich, yellow-gold liquid, highly concentrated in natural sugars and acidity. The yield is small, but the result is a sumptuous and perfectly sweet wine that’s a dessert in itself.
That isn’t to say that Icewine is just for dessert. Icewine is the perfect match for a variety of foods and it is something the chefs of Niagara-on-the-Lake incorporate into their cuisine daily. Icewine for example is outstanding as an aperitif, served with soft cheeses like blue cheese or rich foods like foie gras and paté. With dinner, we suggest trying Icewine with hot and spicy cuisine, like Thai or curry dishes.
You will find that the Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake will use Icewine in any way, shape or form possible. We mix it with vodka for Icewine Martinis. We infuse anything we can with it – blue cheese and pork for instance. We love Icewine so much that we have even dedicated a month to it. The Niagara-on-the-Lake Icewine Festival takes place every January and features a variety of Icewine-inspired events. You haven’t really experienced winter’s rare gift until you have enjoyed it outdoors, in sub-zero temperatures!
(This story is brought to you courtesy of The Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake)
