ICEWINE ( in GERMAN EISWEIN )
Icewine originated in Germany in the late-1700s, and is also called Eiswein. Bottles of Icewine could be labeled either way. What makes Icewine different from white wine is that they are the last grapes plucked from the vine. The grapes, usually Vidal or Riesling variety, are left on the vine until a deep freeze occurs. The cold weather causes the sugar in the grape to concentrate, therefore, making the wine sweeter than white wine. Ice wine is an ultra-rich, super sweet dessert wine made from the intense liquid of naturally frozen grapes. The tradition of making ice wine is well-rooted in Austria and Germany (locally known as "eiswein"); however, Canada has got the current claim to ice wine-making fame, with the majority of the market's ice wine offerings coming from British Columbia and Ontario.
History behind icewine Legend has it that ice wine was discovered by a German winemaker who was away from his vineyard during harvest (never a good idea), and when he returned all of his grapes had been frozen on the vine. Undeterred he carried out the unorthodox harvest as usual and proceeded to press his frozen grapes for fermentation. The result, the first eiswein. What Grapes are Used in Ice Wine? The most common grapes utilized in the making of ice wine are Riesling, Vidal, Gewurztraminer and Cabernet Franc - grapes with higher levels of acidity to render the final wine refreshing and not heavy or overly "sticky." However, as is common in the wine industry there are plenty of winemakers experimenting with a variety of grapes in a variety of regions to stretch the limits and discover new twists on this famous form of wine.
How is Ice Wine Made?
In short, ice wine is wine that is made from grapes that have been allowed to literally freeze on the vine, significantly concentrating the grape's sugars and intensifying the flavor profile. These frozen grapes are then pressed, squeezing out the drops of juice (must) before running through the fermentation process. The sugars and other dissolved solids do not freeze, but the water does, allowing a more concentrated grape must to be pressed from the frozen grapes, resulting in a smaller amount of more concentrated, very sweet wine.
Freezing of the Grapes
Ice wine (or icewine) is a sweet wine made principally from Riesling or Vidal grapes left to freeze on the vine. The grapes must be frozen for at least two days before harvesting, at a temperature that shouldn't exceed -9 degrees Celsius. Because of these strict temperature requirements, ice wine is generally made only in very cold climates, such as Canada, Germany, Austria and northern parts of the U.S.
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HEMANT JALUTHRIA
Harvesting the Grapes
Grapes intended for ice wine must be harvested while still frozen. During harvest season (usually late December or early January), ice-wine vintners often rise between midnight and dawn to pick the grapes to ensure that temperatures never go above freezing. The grapes are always picked by hand, often without gloves, for fear that the warmth from pickers' fingers could thaw the grapes.
Pressing of the Grapes
The grapes must be pressed while still frozen. Most of the water in the grapes remains frozen into ice crystals, thus permitting the juice obtained to have highly concentrated sugar content. Because so little water mixes with the juice, the output of wine is very low, some day "one drop per grape."
Fermentation of the Grapes
The juice from the frozen grapes is left to ferment naturally for several weeks or months. Once fermentation is complete and the wine is considered "stable," it is bottled. Ice wine is generally sold in half-bottles (because of the low output) & are quite expensive.
How to Drink Ice Wine
Icewine, or Eiswein, is a dessert drink severed after a meal in small portions. This is a very easy wine to drink, especially for the novice wine drinker since Icewine is sweet and fruity. One should Choose the right Icewine. When picking a bottle of Icewine, look for ones made in either Germany, Austria or Canada. The most popular Icewines come from the Niagara Peninsula of Canada. The color of the Icewine should be golden or amber. Note any production methods you can find about the wine-- Icewine should always be handpicked and frozen in 10- to 13-degrees Celsius; anything colder would be unfavorable/harmful to the grape. It is typical for Icewine to have a lower alcohol content than table wine. Some German Icewines have an alcohol content as low as 6 percent, while Canadian Icewines have a higher alcohol content of 8 to 13 percent. Since it takes nearly an entire vine of frozen grapes to make one bottle of Icewine, these beverages are generally expensive. It is served in wine glasses & many prefer to serve wine in small cordial glasses. It should be served between 45 and 50 Fahrenheit (7 and 10 Celsius). Ideal storage temperature for all wines is between 50 and 59 Fahrenheit (10 and 15 Celsius). Maintaining a consistent environment is also important for wine storage - temperature and humidity fluctuations, as well as vibrations, can adversely affect wine. HEMANT JALUTHRIA Page 2
