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5 September 2005, 08:15 AM

We had some people over last night for dinner, and I opened one of my most treasured bottles of ice wine. Canada is one of (if not the) the largest producers of ice wine in the world - mainly in the Niagara region of Ontario. The grape used is typically Vidal or Riesling, and the grapes must stay on the vine until frozen, and are harvested at temperatures between -10 and -13 degrees C. To be called ice wine, they can't be frozen by any other methods (must be naturally frozen on the vine). The long time on the vine makes the grapes dry out quite a bit, so when harvested they only give up about 1 drop of juice per grape, and the brix level soars. Combine this with the fact that many grapes are lost to birds, etc, and this becomes an expensive, premuim product quite quickly.

If you have never had this, you should try it. It is a sweet dessert wine, and you don't need to drink much to get the taste. These wines have flavours of apricots, honey, peaches and other fruits, and are a pleasure to drink. I am not at all a fan of sweet table wines, but this kind of dessert wine is something different and special.

The 1/2 bottle I opened last night has been laying down for years in my cellar. Not sure exactly when we bought it, but it would have been the current years production then, so it may be close to 10 years ago! It is a vidal variety, and the age has done it well. Most ice wines aren't kept for long, due to the small output most are drank quickly after bottling, so a 5 year old bottle is quite rare and expensive. I've seen 1/2 bottles from the late 90's fetching $300, so not sure what this 1994 would have been worth (not sure I want to think about it either!).

Here is a shot of the bottle, and then one of the wine in the glass. Very dark colour (much darker than the younger ice wines are), and it poured like a light syrop. The taste was incredible! I've had a lot of ice wine over the years, but this was by far the best I've ever tasted.

JJ Irani · 5 September 2005, 09:56 AM

I've tried it.....absolutely superb.

Rockrolex · 5 September 2005, 11:24 AM

That's probably the darkest ice wine I've seen. It almost looks like a liquor. Ice wine is a wonderful apres diner treat.

padi56 · 5 September 2005, 07:46 PM

Well you learn something new every day,never heard of it before will try
and sample some .

5 September 2005, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockrolex

That's probably the darkest ice wine I've seen. It almost looks like a liquor. Ice wine is a wonderful apres diner treat.

Lots of time in the bottle Ed! I was quite shocked when I poured the first glass and saw how dark it had turned. The flavours were incredible.

G Shearing · 6 September 2005, 05:38 AM

Thanks for the tip on the Vidal. I can almost taste it!
Here in British Columbia we have some of the finest ice wines in the world.
Check this url.

British Columbia Ice Wines.

JJ Irani · 6 September 2005, 06:07 AM

Interesting, Eric, thanks for the link.

JJ

6 September 2005, 10:37 PM

I am not a wine drinker but ice wine is one of my fave potables. My family lives in prime ice wine territory, and my brother actually exports it. I had one a while ago that was apple flavoured and OMG it was amazing!!!

Gotta love it!

Gedanken · 6 September 2005, 11:26 PM

I haven't tried ice wine before - is it something like dessert wine?

6 September 2005, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gedanken

I haven't tried ice wine before - is it something like dessert wine?

Yes, only better.

Gedanken · 6 September 2005, 11:48 PM

Hmm - gotta keep an eye out for it here.

5 September 2005, 08:15 AM	#1
---- Guest Posts: n/a	Ice Wine! We had some people over last night for dinner, and I opened one of my most treasured bottles of ice wine. Canada is one of (if not the) the largest producers of ice wine in the world - mainly in the Niagara region of Ontario. The grape used is typically Vidal or Riesling, and the grapes must stay on the vine until frozen, and are harvested at temperatures between -10 and -13 degrees C. To be called ice wine, they can't be frozen by any other methods (must be naturally frozen on the vine). The long time on the vine makes the grapes dry out quite a bit, so when harvested they only give up about 1 drop of juice per grape, and the brix level soars. Combine this with the fact that many grapes are lost to birds, etc, and this becomes an expensive, premuim product quite quickly. If you have never had this, you should try it. It is a sweet dessert wine, and you don't need to drink much to get the taste. These wines have flavours of apricots, honey, peaches and other fruits, and are a pleasure to drink. I am not at all a fan of sweet table wines, but this kind of dessert wine is something different and special. The 1/2 bottle I opened last night has been laying down for years in my cellar. Not sure exactly when we bought it, but it would have been the current years production then, so it may be close to 10 years ago! It is a vidal variety, and the age has done it well. Most ice wines aren't kept for long, due to the small output most are drank quickly after bottling, so a 5 year old bottle is quite rare and expensive. I've seen 1/2 bottles from the late 90's fetching $300, so not sure what this 1994 would have been worth (not sure I want to think about it either!). Here is a shot of the bottle, and then one of the wine in the glass. Very dark colour (much darker than the younger ice wines are), and it poured like a light syrop. The taste was incredible! I've had a lot of ice wine over the years, but this was by far the best I've ever tasted.

5 September 2005, 09:56 AM	#2
JJ Irani Fondly Remembered Join Date: May 2005 Real Name: JJ Location: Auckland, NZ Watch: ALL SOLD!! Posts: 74,320	I've tried it.....absolutely superb. __________________ Words fail me in expressing my utmost thanks to ALL of you for this wonderful support during my hour of need!! I firmly believe that my time on planet earth is NOT yet up!! I shall fight this to the very end.......and WIN!!

5 September 2005, 11:24 AM	#3
Rockrolex TRF Moderator & 2024 DATE-JUST41 Patron Join Date: May 2005 Real Name: God Location: Washington, D.C. Watch: What do you think? Posts: 37,514	That's probably the darkest ice wine I've seen. It almost looks like a liquor. Ice wine is a wonderful apres diner treat. __________________ Despite the high cost of living, it's still very popular. *Tosser Cabinet Member* Official Member: 'Perpetual 30' Vegas International GTG 2016 Official Member "WIS-CON" Las Vegas International GTG 2017 Official Member "WIS-CON" Las Vegas International GTG 2018 Official Member "WIS-CON" Las Vegas International GTG 2019

5 September 2005, 07:46 PM	#4
padi56 "TRF" Life Patron Join Date: Jun 2005 Real Name: Peter Location: Llanfairpwllgwyng Watch: ing you. Posts: 52,303	Well you learn something new every day,never heard of it before will try and sample some . __________________ ICom Pro3 All posts are my own opinion and my opinion only. "The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to tell just when the hands will stop. Now is the only time you actually own the time, Place no faith in time, for the clock may soon be still for ever." Good Judgement comes from experience,experience comes from Bad Judgement,.Buy quality, cry once; buy cheap, cry again and again. www.mc0yad.club Second in command CEO and left handed watch winder

6 September 2005, 05:38 AM	#6
G Shearing Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Canadian NW Posts: 176	Love ice wines. Thanks for the tip on the Vidal. I can almost taste it! Here in British Columbia we have some of the finest ice wines in the world. Check this url. British Columbia Ice Wines.

6 September 2005, 06:07 AM	#7
JJ Irani Fondly Remembered Join Date: May 2005 Real Name: JJ Location: Auckland, NZ Watch: ALL SOLD!! Posts: 74,320	Interesting, Eric, thanks for the link. JJ __________________ Words fail me in expressing my utmost thanks to ALL of you for this wonderful support during my hour of need!! I firmly believe that my time on planet earth is NOT yet up!! I shall fight this to the very end.......and WIN!!

6 September 2005, 10:37 PM	#8
Atomic Guest Posts: n/a	I am not a wine drinker but ice wine is one of my fave potables. My family lives in prime ice wine territory, and my brother actually exports it. I had one a while ago that was apple flavoured and OMG it was amazing!!! Gotta love it!

6 September 2005, 11:26 PM	#9
Gedanken "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2005 Real Name: Sir Location: Melbourne Watch: F-series SD Posts: 8,589	I haven't tried ice wine before - is it something like dessert wine? __________________ You buy a Casio to make sure you're on time; you wear a Rolex because you don't have to be on time.

6 September 2005, 11:48 PM	#11
Gedanken "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2005 Real Name: Sir Location: Melbourne Watch: F-series SD Posts: 8,589	Hmm - gotta keep an eye out for it here. __________________ You buy a Casio to make sure you're on time; you wear a Rolex because you don't have to be on time.

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