Ice wines

A risky game with the ice wine

Only the most daring try this specialty, because it requires perfect conditions, from summer to the following spring. The frost in particular is often a problem, which can result in the total loss of the harvest. All the more celebrated is the ice wine and its character; full sweetness, powerful flavors and creamy pleasure. 

Ice wine - these are grapes not overly ripened by the sun, which instead of being harvested in the fall, are harvested in January or even February, possibly taking concentrated form due to cold and frost. Over the long ripening period, the grape water is transformed into concentrated form and sugar. This does not work with every grape. Hand harvesting is therefore essential and another reason why ice wine is one of the more labor-intensive and expensive wines. 

A lot of work, the hope of catching the ideal climate and a fair amount of winemaking skill - it all goes into providing wine lovers and ice wine fans with an unparalleled experience.

What is ice wine?

Ice wine is a wine made from frozen grapes. Due to the frozen state of the vine, hardly any grape water gets into the must, but mainly highly concentrated juice. This is very sweet and, unlike Spätlese or Trockenbeerenauslese, fresh and fruity, as only healthy grapes are used for Eiswein. Ice wine is considered a rarity because its production involves many difficulties over which the winemaker has no control. 

Where does the Eiswein come from?

In Germany, the wine-growing regions of Baden-Württemberg, Rheinhessen, Pfalz and Hesse have stood out. German ice wine enjoys a high reputation throughout the world. Excellent products are also pressed in Austria. Canada is considered the largest producer of ice wine, and New Zealand and the USA also have ice wine to offer, although these are only comparable with German products to a limited extent due to production processes. 

Why is ice wine so sweet?

Ice wine is made from frozen grapes, which contain only a little water, but all the more concentrated juice. This also increases the amount of fruit's own sugar. Less water and more sugar make ice wine very sweet. 

Ice wine - Prädikat wine 

Eiswein is one of the German Prädikat wines, along with Spätlesen or Trockenbeerenauslesen. Winegrowers in Austria and Switzerland are also venturing into the specialty. Further south, on the other hand, there is no need to look for ice wine - ice wine is part of the repertoire of northern growing regions. Canada, for example, is considered the largest producer of ice wine. 

Temperatures of at least -7 °C and frost are necessary to achieve the desired concentration of sweetness and acidity in the grapes. Even in German climes, the climate does not always play along. Instead of being harvested in the fall, the grapes for German ice wine are not harvested until January or February, and usually at the crack of dawn. Thus, not only the grapes arrive in the wine cellar, but with them also the water crystallized into ice on and in the grapes.

Order ice wine online

Icewine from Germany and selected places in the world can be found in a limited but large selection. Order ice wine and many other delicious wines online. We deliver inexpensively and as quickly as possible directly to your door.