What is icewine and how it served?

Answer 1

Ice wine is a type of dessert wine produced from grapes that have been frozen. The sugars and other dissolved solids do not freeze, but the water does, so the result is an unusually concentrated, often very sweet wine.

Icewine is probably best when it is chilled but NOT cold. The ideal temperature is 10-12°C. Renowned as "dessert in a glass" it is ideal on its own or with a fresh fruit plate. Often, it is recommended that Icewine be served in small liqueur glasses but research has shown that stemware with a fairly large bowl (9 oz.) is better as it amplifies the nose and intensifies the flavours. Failing that, a normal wine glass is still better than glassware that is too small.

Answer 2

True ice wine should be made from grapes naturally frozen on the vine. Ice wine is always expensive, because it is a gamble to leave grapes on the vine way past harvest time in September/October and into the new year in the hope there will be a cold enough winter. The grapes are at risk from birds and rot. They have to be a variety with a thick skin. Several varieties are used, including the red Cabernet Francthat makes a beautiful dark pink icewine in Ontario.

The effect of freezing means any water in the grape is frozen and whenit is crushed only the essence of the grape juice is released.

Ice wine is usually served in a very small glass as a dessert or after dinner wine. It is lusciously sweet --although the German icewines can have a high degree of acidity. And expensive, very expensive.



Some people might be puzzled by perfecttiming1 and hum_ko_dewan giving identical word-for-word answers.

Unfortunately there are people who do not know the answer who use Google to find relevent text which they just cut and paste and too often pass it off as their own without attributing the source. Their answer was copied from http://www.ontariograpes.com/icewine.html and describes the Ontario VQA rules.

Answer 3

Icewine is made from grapes that have been through the first frost. It is only available once a year, if that. The conditions have to be perfect. It is served as a liqueur - an apres dinner drink. Never as a wine as it is very sweet - about a 10, whereas a wine is around a 1 - 4.
British Columbia, Canada, has become famous for its wineries in the past few years - and has been one of the forerunners in making icewine in this country.

Answer 4

Icewine or "Eiswein" in Germany, is a late-harvest wine made from grapes pressed while frozen. Its made from Vidal and Riesling grapes.

The grapes are left on the vine until after the first frost hits. These grapes are harvested after being frozen in the vineyard and then, while still frozen, are pressed.

They must be picked early - before 10 a.m. During both of these processes the temperature cannot exceed -8 degrees C. At this temperature (-8 degrees C) the berries will freeze as hard as marbles. While the grape is still frozen, its pressed and the water is driven out as shards of ice. This leaves a highly concentrated juice, very high in acids, sugars and aromatics.

In Ontario, Canada and in Germany, icewine is defined as naturally frozen. No other method of making icewine is allowed other than the natural method. No artificial freezing method constitutes icewine by definition or label.

Icewine is a very sweet wine and is served as a dessert wine.

Answer 5

Icewine or "Eiswein" in Germany, is a late-harvest wine made from grapes pressed while frozen. Its made from Vidal and Riesling grapes.

The grapes are left on the vine until after the first frost hits. These grapes are harvested after being frozen in the vineyard and then, while still frozen, are pressed.

They must be picked early - before 10 a.m. During both of these processes the temperature cannot exceed -8 degrees C. At this temperature (-8 degrees C) the berries will freeze as hard as marbles. While the grape is still frozen, its pressed and the water is driven out as shards of ice. This leaves a highly concentrated juice, very high in acids, sugars and aromatics.

In Ontario, Canada and in Germany, icewine is defined as naturally frozen. No other method of making icewine is allowed other than the natural method. No artificial freezing method constitutes icewine by definition or label.

Icewine is a very sweet wine and is served as a dessert wine.

Answer 6

Whether it is spelled “Icewine” as in Canada, or “Ice Wine” in the US, the term always refers to wines made from grapes that have been naturally frozen on the vine. Wines made from grapes that have been frozen post-harvest can no longer be called Ice Wine in the US. Canada produces more Icewines than anywhere else, with Germany a close second. In the Northwest, true Ice Wines are rarely made (more of them come from Washington, and only a small handful come from Oregon). ...

Answer 7

Ice wine (or icewine or Eiswein in German) is a type of dessert wine produced from grapes that have been frozen. The sugars and other dissolved solids do not freeze, but the water does, so the result is a concentrated, often very sweet wine. The effect is comparable to the freeze distillation that was traditionally used to make applejack and similar beverages, but in the case of ice wines, the freezing happens before the fermentation, not afterwards. Unlike other dessert wines (such as Sauternes, Beerenauslese, or Trockenbeerenauslese), grapes for ice wine tend not to be affected by Botrytis cinerea or Noble Rot. This gives ice wine its characteristic of refreshing sweetness balanced by high acidity. When the grapes are free of Botrytis, they are said to come in "clean."

It can be taken just like ordinary wine

Answer 8

As others have said icewine is made from grapes that have been left on the wine to freeze, thus producing a concentrated sweet juice that the wine is produced from.

Icewine is served chilled in 2 ounce servings, usually in a port glass. However recently efforts have been made to design a wine glass to present the unique and special characters of Icewines and Eiswein.

TASTING NOTES
91/100 Gehringer Brothers Cabernet Franc Ice Wine Signature Series 2001
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Produced By: Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery
Distributed By: International Cellars Inc.
Ripe apricot, mineral, tobacco leaf, spicy earthy nose. Rich, ripe, round and supple with spicy, crushed herbs, dried peach and apricot with a raspberry jam, mineral finish. Quite sweet but nicely balanced with good acidity. Fresh and attractive and unusual.
Last Tasted: 2003-12-14 by AG
Prices: BC $46.99 VQA Wine Stores
CSPC: 567016; UPC: 623871030077

93/100 Mission Hill Riesling Ice Wine Reserve 2004
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Produced By: Mission Hill Family Estate
Distributed By: Mark Anthony Wine Merchants
Mission Hill Winery
Floral, creamy, mineral, green apple skin, nectarine aromas. Fresh, vibrant, elegant, clean palate with green apple, pear, mineral, orange zest, lime and apricot flavours. Somewhat sweet but fine acidity balanced with balanced intensity. Drink anytime over the next 2-4 years. Released Feb 06
Last Tasted: 2006-01-27 by AG
Prices: AB $49.99 fine wine boutiques; BC $59.99 winery direct and private wine shops
UPC: 776545995636

91/100 Max Ferd Richter Mülheimer Helenenkloster Riesling Eiswein 1999
Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany
Produced By: Max Ferdinand Richter
Distributed By: Liquid Art Fine Wines
At two acres, the monopole Helenenkloster vineyard is one of the smallest single-vineyards confirmed by the 1971 wine-law. The frozen grapes were sorted after selection on the floor of the winery. Delicate Mosel style here with lifted peachy fruit. Look for sensational balance delicious acidity and balance.
Last Tasted: 2000-09-01 by AG-ST
Prices: BC $73.95 375 mL

Answer 9

OOOOh. One of my favorites. First the grapes are kept on the vine through the first freeze to concentrate the sugar content in the grape. The grapes are then harvested frozen and immediately processed. The ice shards puncture the skins. You don't want the ice to thaw since the ice is water and will dilute the must (grape juice). The must is then fermented to a point that keeps the residual sugars high. This is a very sweet wine, but not like a kosher sweet wine.

Answer 10

ice wine is made from frozen grapes. The grapes has to be frozen at a certain temperature, to be able to produce juice. and it's to be served chilled.