In British Columbia, Icewine is a special category of BC VQA wine.  In general terms, BC Icewine is made from grapes that have been frozen on the vine.  Because only the water in grapes freezes, not the grape sugars, pressing the frozen grapes results in a smaller amount of much sweeter juice and subsequently, very sweet “dessert-style” wines.  Because of the labour and risk involved in making a relatively small amount of wine, Icewines tend to be more expensive than regular table wines. Because all Icewine in BC is a special category of BC VQA wine, all BC Icewines must first pass through the BC VQA taste assessment process before they can be marketed as Icewine.  However, the making of Icewine is highly regulated in BC in order to protect the integrity of the process and the “Icewine” term.  Wineries wishing to make Icewine in BC must first register with the BCWA and indicate their intention to make Icewine before the annual harvest commences.  Having registered their intention, registered wineries must subsequently advise the BCWA when they start harvesting any grapes intended for use in Icewine. 

The grapes must be frozen and the ambient air temperature must be -8° C or lower at the time of harvest.  In addition to these basic requirements, producers must also ensure that:Only prescribed vitis vinifera or Vidal Blanc grape varieties are used in the wine.  best wine resorts in the worldThese grapes must have been grown within a geographical area designated by a prescribed geographic indicator other than “British Columbia” (such as the Okanagan Valley) and the grapes must be pressed within that same geographical area;best of april wine youtubeThe picked grapes are transported by the most direct route from picking to pressing and that the grapes are then pressed in a continuous process while they are still frozen;wine gift bag cheap

The Brix level of any grape juice, or grape must, used to make the wine is not less than 32.0° Brix after each pressing (measured after transfer to the fermentation vessel), and achieves an average of at least 35.0° Brix (when combined in the fermentation vessel);best wine for new years eveThe wine is not processed using any artificial method of concentrating the sugar content of fresh grapes, grape juice, grape must or wine (such as artificial refrigeration at temperatures below -4°C).  best cooking wine brandTank cooling at temperatures below -4° C is also prohibited during fermentation and cold stabilization prior to bottling;.seven best wine blogsCanadian Ice Wine in British Columbia is mostly made in the Okanagan Valley, as this region is

blessed with ideal conditions for producing wonderful red wines, white wines, fruit wines. planning on an Okanagan wine tour, be sure to ask about Ice Wines! What is Ice Wine & How Do You Enjoy It Best? Ice wine, or Icewine, is traditionally a unique sweet wine produced from the juice of naturally frozen grapes that are grown and picked in ideal Canadian winter conditions. Icewine originated in Germany, as Eiswein, with commercial production beginning there in the 1960's. And, although production of ice wine in Canada began a century later, the country is now the largest producer in the world. Icewine is produced by many BC wineries, but the majority are found in the Okanagan Valley. Ice wines have very intense flavours, a sweet and rich bouquet, with a smoothness uncomparable to other wines. Though traditionally a dessert wine, Canadian Ice Wines are also served as a starter, with fresh fruit, soft cheeses, or See 'Ya Later Ranch

Elephant Island Orchard Winery Burrowing Owl Estate Winery If you're serving or having Icewine with dessert, they say the dessert should be less sweet than the Icewine - fruit-based desserts such as fruit cobbler, cheesecake or unsweetened It should also be chilled in an ice bucket for 15 minutes or refrigerate for two hours before serving. Although ice wine (or Icewine) is primarily made from Riesling grapes, it can be made from different types or varieties of grapes. It takes about 30lbs of grapes to make one 375ml bottle of Ice Wine. The Ice Wine Making Process The ice wine making process begins with wine grapes that naturally frozen on the vine. In British Columbia and Canada, Canadian ice wine can only be made from grapes pressed within a specific recognized viticultural area. Our winters are cold enough to meet the strict standards of the VQA (Vintners Quality Alliance) for grape growing, wine-making techniques and wine production.

in Canada, are also made in Ontario, and must also follow VQA protocol to be labelled as such. In the Okanagan Valley, where wine grapes that are normally harvested in September, they are instead left on the vines until late December or early January. Grapes left on the vine during this time continue to ripen, and as the weather becomes colder, the sugar concentration of the grapes increases, while the acidity of the fruit decreases, which makes them icewine grapes. Icewine grapes must freeze naturally and in ideal temperatures. sugar concentration in this fruit is much higher, it takes a temperature of - 8°C or colder in order for the fruit to freeze. In frozen grapes, all the water content is frozen allowing only the intensified sugars and aromas to be released when the grapes are pressed for the ice wine making process. Though the majority of Icewine is made from Riesling and Vidal varietals, other grape varieties used for Canadian Ice Wine

include Cabernet Franc, Gewurztraminer, Merlot, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay. Sparkling Icewine is also becoming a popular Ice Wine in Canada. Where Can You Buy Ice Wine In The Okanagan British Columbia First, know that many of the wines you'll taste, including the Canadian Ice Wines, at Okanagan BC wineries won't be available anywhere else, so if you like one, it's a good idea buy it right then and there. If you plan to buy by the case, wineries often have cartons or boxes to offer for easy transporting. Icewine can keep for 10 years or more, with proper storage - in a cool dark place and on it's side. After opening a bottle of Icewine, you should drink it within 4 - 5 days, which isn't tough to do since a bottle is somewhere between 200 - 375 mls. (8 - 10 oz). Some of the wineries that have produced Canadian Ice Wine in the Okanagan Valley include Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery, Inniskillin Winery, Jackson-Triggs Winery,

K Mountain Vineyards, Mission Hill Estate Winery, Mount Boucherie Estate Winery, Nk'Mip Cellars, Peller Estates, Quails' Gate Estate Winery, See Ya Later Ranch, Soaring Eagle Estate Winery, Summerhill Pyramid Winery, Tinhorn Creek Vineyards, and Willow Hill Winery. Generally you can buy Ice Wine directly from the wineries you visit. Many wineries in the Okanagan close for the winter months, so if you're here during that time, your best bet is to call a winery that you might be interested in, visit a BC VQA store, or a local visitor's centre. wine tour season is roughly from April to October, when tasting rooms are open, as well as vineyard tours. BC VQA Stores stock and sell a variety of Canadian Ice wines. see our BC VQA Labels On British Columbia Wines for information about British Columbia wines and wine designation. Okanagan Wineries and Wine Regions Wine Tour Options & Touring Tips Complimentary Printable Wine Tasting Sheet