The Canadian city of Ontario is known to produce some of the great varieties of
Ice wines all across the world. With wine regions of
Niagara-on-the-Lake & Niagara Peninsula within the vicinity, Ontario has made its mark as the finest producer of
Ice wines. The region boasts of a number of
wineries that yield grapes of varied variety as the climate is ideally suited for their growth.
The wine lovers must make a visit to the place to have a memorable wine experience especially the rare
Ice wines. Before any further discussion, let us first understand what is
Ice Wine?
An
Ice Wine is the rare quality of dessert wine that is made from frozen grapes. Under the chilling temperature of -10 to -12Celcius, the grapes are hand picked and allowed to ferment for months to produce
Ice wines. As the grapes are frozen, they contain a highly concentrated mixture of sugar and acids which accounts for its rich taste which makes it different and exceptional from other wines.
Generally grapes used to produce
ice wines include Riesling and Vidal though lately the red grape Cabernet Franc is also been used to make red
ice wines. Riesling
Ice wines have more acidity than Vidal
ice wines. However Vidal grapes have become a popular choice for
ice wines due to their tough skin required to survive long hanging period.
Available as Vidal, Riesling, Cabernet Franc and Oak aged,
ice wines must be consumed with the right kind of food. To have an enriching experience one must know the art of pairing food with the type of
ice wine. Thee are number of
wineries in Niagara region of Ontario which offer an extensive variety of
ice wines including the most latest ones like Sparkling and Syrah
ice wines.
Peller Estates at
Niagara-on-the-Lake is worth a visit if you wish to taste a wide range of ice wines with excellent food from its restaurant. A
wine tour of its
winery will provide you an insight into the production of making
ice wine, types of grapes used and the whole process involved till bottling.
Ice wines are considered a cherished property in
Canada especially in winters. A bit expensive but the surplus enjoyment that it offers is beyond any measure.
