Canadian Icewine

Canadian Icewine is the wine that Canda is best known for. It was a tradition brought over by German migrants looking to create their traditional Eiswein that has led to Canada becoming the world's largest producer. Whilst Icewine is by no means the most produced style in Canada, it is the most internationally recognised.

Icewine is made by harvesting grapes that have been left to freeze on the vine over the winter months, turning the water in the grape to ice. In Canada, grapes cannot be harvested until temperatures reach -8 degrees celcius. The picked grapes are pressed, leaving the ice in the press machine and therefore concentrating the sugars of the press juice. The main region for Icewine production is Niagura Peninsula in Ontario where the best producers are found (Peller, Inniskillin).

In order to survive the winter condtions, the vines must be hardy. In Canada, the hybrid Vidal is most commonly used alongside German Riesling, but the black grape Cabernet Franc is also able to withstand Canada's frozen climate and make great Icewine too. The resulting wines are rich and sweet with stone fruit and tropical flavours such as mango and pineapple.