Wine Wednesday: What is Ice Wine?

From merlot to moscato, there are hundreds of wines out there. While many of us have come to know and love popular types of wines, most haven’t experienced anything like ice wine.

Ice wine is an ultra-rich dessert wine produced by grapes that have been frozen while still on the vine. This highly concentrated, sweet wine is a drink everyone must experience at least once.

Since ice wine is only produced in areas that accommodate consistently low temperatures, Germany and our neighbor country of Canada are the main producers of this tasty treat.

While the production of ice wine seems simple, what many don’t realize is it does involve some risk. Picking the crop also requires a large labor force that must harvest the grapes within hours of the frost.

Because of the risky production of ice wine, there is a limited supply, making it more attractive to wine-lovers worldwide. Since this item is scarce, it’s not uncommon to pay anywhere between $50 to $100 for some of the best ice wines available.

Most ice wines commonly have apricot and peach undertones. Other components include exotic flavors of mango, strawberries and spices. Like most dessert wines, the alcohol level in ice wine rests on the lower side, ranging from 7 to 12 percent. For a special occasion or a for a wine-loving friend, consider this delectable wine as your go-to gift.