Ice wine is a sweet dessert wine made from grapes frozen on the vine, with the best coming from Germany, Canada, and northern US. It is expensive due to the labor required to produce it, and the best quality comes from naturally frozen grapes in colder climates. Some winemakers in warmer climates have tried to produce it artificially, but it lacks the complexity of naturally produced ice wine. Germany and Canada have quality control standards for ice wine production, with Canada being the largest producer. The risk of harvesting and labor required to produce ice wine contribute to its high price.
Ice wine is a fruity dessert wine that is made from grapes that are frozen while on the vine. Because a long period of chilling is necessary to produce, the best ice wine comes from Germany, Canada, and the northernmost parts of the United States. The resulting libation is so sweet and has such a complex flavor that it commands a steep price, requiring it to be sold by the half-bottle to be affordable to consumers. A higher price doesn’t necessarily reflect quality, however, more reflecting the tedious harvesting process that produces less grape juice than hot grapes. Many wine connoisseurs find German and Canadian wines to be of better quality because each must meet a set of standards set by a quality control organization.
Although the most authentic ice wines with the best flavors are made from naturally frozen grapes in colder climates, some winemakers in more southern climates, particularly the United States, have tried to cash in on this libation’s popularity by artificially freezing the grapes first to ferment them, making production possible in climates where it had never been before. These grapes are harvested early in the season and frozen after harvest, thus affecting the flavor of the finished product. The consensus is that these wines may have the sweetness but lack the complexity of naturally produced ice wine.
The grapes used to make ice wine are traditionally Reisling, although some winemakers are experiencing success with other types. Germany has been producing eiswein the longest and produces many of the most expensive ice wines in the world according to Pradikatswein, which indicates a wine of excellent quality. Only eiswein in which the grape is made up of at least 30 percent sugar and was frozen while still on the vine qualifies under this standard. German Eiswein enjoys the reputation of being among the best in the world and being among the most expensive.
Canada has become the world’s largest producer of ice wine due to extreme winters and ideal conditions for large-scale production. Like Germany, Canadian ice wine complies with standards set by the Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA). According to the VQA, Canadian grapes must contain 35 percent sugar, even more than German grapes. As in Germany, Canadian grapes must be frozen on the vine before harvesting.
Much of the price of ice wine is a result of the risk of harvesting and the amount of labor required to produce it. Grapes intended for ice wine sit on the vine longer before harvest because they only need to be harvested after a hard freeze, below 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-8 degrees C). If the weather is too hot, the grapes can rot before a hard freeze. Harvesters have to harvest a lot of grapes to produce even a small yield. The price may not indicate the best quality of wine. The best ice wines come from colder areas of northern Michigan, Canada, Germany and other countries where grapes are subject to natural freezing.
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