A Look At Ice Wine
June 29, 2009
Looking at the different types of sweet wines on the market the one people prefer most is Ice Wine, or Eiswein. It's a rare sweet wine that is produced only in small batches and during cold winter frosts. Canada and Germany are most famous for their ice wines. The conditions in these regions are perfect for the wine made from frozen grapes.
One might think that ice wine is pricey because it is hard to find, but that's not the reason at all. Because it is produced in such small amounts it puts more of a demand on it. That's why it comes with a hefty price tag. There are other sweet wines available that can do the same job of delivering a honey sweetness, but none come near approaching the honey flow of ice wine.
Like I said cold weather is essential for ice wine production. The grapes are expected to freeze and are expected to freeze on the vine in a major frost. In fact, that's how it came to be. Eiswein is pressed from frozen grapes. As the grapes on the grape vine ripen, when the weather gets cold enough, around -8 degrees C., the grapes will freeze. Once this happens the grapes are picked at night, when the temperatures are coldest, and they are taken to the winery to be pressed.
The pressing also takes place while the grapes are frozen so that the water in the grapes remains frozen. Because of this the frozen grapes produce only a small amount of juice and the sugars are concentrated producing a very flavorful juice. This juice is then fermented to produce ice wine. The resulting product is a very concentrated, sweet wine. The high sugar level also results in a slower fermentation process. So ice wine takes longer to produce than a normal table wine.
There are also wines produced that are called ice wine, but they are produced differently. The grapes are picked earlier, and then frozen before pressing them for their juice. As a result, the flavors of the grapes are not as fully developed as in ice wine. As stated above, these wines are also known as icebox wines.
All of these factors, the particular weather conditions, and the sparse amount of juice from each grape, are what makes ice wine so rare and expensive. Ice wine is usually sold in half bottles, as opposed to regular wine, which typically is sold in 750ml bottles. Most stores do not sell ice wine, and it is hard to find online. Even if you can find it, it may be a bit expensive. But if you can, it is well worth it. Ice wine, because of the sugar content is very sweet, but not cloyingly so. The acid helps to balance out the sweetness.
Once produced, ice wine will sell very quickly. If you find a wine maker with some sweet ice wine, you should do your best to pick up a bottle or two. It will be expensive, but well worth it.
One might think that ice wine is pricey because it is hard to find, but that's not the reason at all. Because it is produced in such small amounts it puts more of a demand on it. That's why it comes with a hefty price tag. There are other sweet wines available that can do the same job of delivering a honey sweetness, but none come near approaching the honey flow of ice wine.
Like I said cold weather is essential for ice wine production. The grapes are expected to freeze and are expected to freeze on the vine in a major frost. In fact, that's how it came to be. Eiswein is pressed from frozen grapes. As the grapes on the grape vine ripen, when the weather gets cold enough, around -8 degrees C., the grapes will freeze. Once this happens the grapes are picked at night, when the temperatures are coldest, and they are taken to the winery to be pressed.
The pressing also takes place while the grapes are frozen so that the water in the grapes remains frozen. Because of this the frozen grapes produce only a small amount of juice and the sugars are concentrated producing a very flavorful juice. This juice is then fermented to produce ice wine. The resulting product is a very concentrated, sweet wine. The high sugar level also results in a slower fermentation process. So ice wine takes longer to produce than a normal table wine.
There are also wines produced that are called ice wine, but they are produced differently. The grapes are picked earlier, and then frozen before pressing them for their juice. As a result, the flavors of the grapes are not as fully developed as in ice wine. As stated above, these wines are also known as icebox wines.
All of these factors, the particular weather conditions, and the sparse amount of juice from each grape, are what makes ice wine so rare and expensive. Ice wine is usually sold in half bottles, as opposed to regular wine, which typically is sold in 750ml bottles. Most stores do not sell ice wine, and it is hard to find online. Even if you can find it, it may be a bit expensive. But if you can, it is well worth it. Ice wine, because of the sugar content is very sweet, but not cloyingly so. The acid helps to balance out the sweetness.
Once produced, ice wine will sell very quickly. If you find a wine maker with some sweet ice wine, you should do your best to pick up a bottle or two. It will be expensive, but well worth it.
Posted by Jim Beasley. Posted In : Types Of Sweet Wine