How To Drink Icewine

For a lot of crops, an early frost can be the kiss of death. But for winemakers, they realized that leaving grapes on the vines well into the late fall resulted in the grapes producing a more concentrated sweetness as the grapes began to resemble raisins. The sugary dessert wine first came about in Germany and Austria (dubbed eiswein) and has since gained popularity.

How To Produce Icewine

That being said, the process of making true icewine is a bit more complicated and not just left to chance. For the optimal taste, and to avoid ruining the grapes with an overly harsh frost, the frozen grapes must be harvested at the exact time they are cold enough to crystallize the water, concentrating the juice, and this must happen naturally according to the temperature outside.

As it is such a particular process to create, icewine sometimes cannot be made every year if the weather conditions permit otherwise. And of course, global warming has affected the weather immensely, making it a hit or miss.

Thankfully in Canada, where the rules of what is considered a true icewine are even stricter (higher minimum sugar levels in grapes), the weather is on our side and wineries are able to produce icewine almost every year. To celebrate the popularity of the sweet wine, the Niagara Region hosts the Niagara Icewine Festival every year where samples from many different wineries can be tried.

 

Serving Icewine

The somewhat fussy nature of creating icewine is worth it though, and you’ll find that the more expensive, smaller bottle full of rich sweetness will go a long way as it is meant to be served in smaller glasses and sipped.

Icewine is traditionally served in a small chilled glass, either a champagne flute or a white wine glass on the smaller side, as you would use for Sauvignon Blanc. That being said, it’s ideal to serve icewine in a glass big enough to still allow you to swirl it around.

Half a bottle should provide about two ounces per person if you have six to eight people over for dinner and you plan on drinking ice wine with dessert. Drinking too much at a time would both be overwhelming and very costly for the host!

Serve chilled icewine after it has been in the fridge for a couple of hours. It should be cool, definitely no less than four degrees, not cold when you serve the icewine like with other dessert wines.

Storing Icewine

Ideally, the wine should be stored on its side and on a slant to keep the cork moist and at a temperature no higher than around ten degrees.

As if you needed any reason to serve ice wine on any occasion, here’s one more: it is recommended to not try and age icewine. Usually, the icewine you buy is either from last year’s harvest or sometimes the one before, either because so little is produced or just because there are no benefits from letting it sit. Wine producers usually recommend not to leave it for more than four years, but it’s up to your own personal taste.

When Should You Drink Icewine?

The jury is still out on whether this should truly be considered a dessert wine. Some people believe it should be served when dinner is done, when guests are already full and not likely to want to drink too much! On the other hand, some say it shouldn’t be served then as people won’t enjoy it. Whenever you choose to drink your icewines, know that the sweet wine is a special treat and a lot of work has been put into it.

What Food To Pair With Icewine

One rule when you serve a dessert wine is to never pair it with a food that is sweeter than the wine itself, as in comparison it will end up tasting bitter. Ideally, it should be served with very dark chocolate, fruity tarts, nice aged gruyere, or other hard cheeses.

If you are one of the people who don’t think icewine should be limited to after the meal, know that it can pair very well with spicy dishes like Indian or Thai curries, and even takes a bit of sting away from Buffalo wings!

In France, icewine is sometimes served closer to the beginning of the meal as it compliments foie gras and cheeses very nicely. It can also accompany the main course of seafood, such as scallops and lobster, duck a l’orange, sashimi, and more, if you’re willing to step outside the box and give it a try.

Sparkling Icewine

What is the difference between icewine and sparkling icewine? Well, in short, it’s fizzy! Before the fermentation process is completed, after the alcohol level reaches 9%, the vat is closed and CO2 cannot escape and, therefore, stays in the wine, making it carbonated, fizzy, and sparkling!

As with sparkling water, the fizziness makes your tongue less able to detect the sweetness, therefore, it can complement more foods such as nuts and a variety of cheese and fruit desserts.

Icewine Cocktails

If you’re looking for another way to enjoy the sweet wine, know that it is the perfect addition to great cocktails!

Whip up a Canadian Manhattan easily with only a few ingredients: 1⁄2 oz of Riesling or Vidal Icewine, 1 oz bourbon, 1⁄2 oz maple syrup, and a maraschino cherry on top.

Or, even simpler, keep things cool with a Berry Frosty Cocktail. You only need 1 1/2 oz of Vidal Icewine, 3 ozs of peach juice, 1 oz rosé sparkling wine and five strawberries.

However you choose to enjoy your icewine, it’s fascinating to know how much work went into making it and what a treat it really is. It’s true that the best things really do come in the smallest packages.

Things To Do Around Toronto

Although Toronto isn’t especially old compared to some other cities in Canada, unless you count York which is located within it, it makes up for it with its huge variety of diverse attractions that will interest any tourist. Whether you’re a shopper, an art enthusiast, an explorer, sports fanatic, or wine connoisseur, Toronto will not disappoint.

A List Of Fun Things To Do In & Around Toronto

Art

Toronto is home to more than one art gallery but is perhaps best known for the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO). The AGO is 583, 000 square feet and has over 4, 000 works of art on display. Located in the Grange Park neighbourhood, it isn’t far from the infamous graffiti alley. The group of alleyways beginning at the corner of Rush and Portland is the canvas for many talented artists to legally create beautiful street art on brick and mortar. In addition, the Royal Ontario Museum (also known as The ROM) was established in 1912 and is best known for its ancient Egyptian and Chinese collections.

Music

If live music or comedy shows are more your scene, you should check out what is playing at one of the many easy-to-access venues such as Massey Hall, Meridian Hall, or The Danforth Music Hall. Additionally, the Budweiser Stage holds great outdoor concerts for the summer months and you can sit on the grassy hill and enjoy your favourite musicians.

Theatre

Toronto also has various spectacular venues such as The Royal Alexandra, The Princess of Wales and The Ed Mirvish Theatre where Broadway and other major shows can be seen. Come From Away is currently playing, but Kinky Boots, Wicked, The Lion King, and Rock of Ages have also made a stop over the years.

Shopping

If you are in Toronto and love to shop, you must check out Yonge Street and its over six-hundred retail stores. It also happens to be the longest street in the world! The Toronto Eaton Centre is an indoor mall that also happens to be located on this street. If you prefer smaller shops over retail chains, then definitely check out Kensington Market, Chinatown and St Lawrence Market for quirky stores, vintage and retro pieces, and antique markets. The South Market is where you can find upwards of fifty food vendors and the North Market hosts the Farmer’s Market every Sunday.

Sports

Although the Toronto Maple Leafs haven’t won the Stanley Cup in a long time, it’s still fun to take in a game at the Scotiabank Arena. Just maybe don’t mention their lack of winning to the die-hard fans as it’s a bit of a sore spot. The Hockey Hall of Fame is the ultimate destination for enthusiasts of the sport as it holds all sorts of records and trophies and exhibits different players regularly. Here you can learn all about the history of hockey in Canada and buy some merchandise as well. If you are visiting in the summer, watching the Toronto Blue Jays play a game at the Rogers Centre is always great fun! Close by is Ripley’s Aquarium and the CN Tower and Steamwhistle Brewery, so you can complete your fun-filled day.

Kid-Friendly Activities

If you’re bringing your kids along on the trip to Canada’s largest city, they’ll love visiting the amusement park known as Canada’s Wonderland. Apart from special events like Winterfest and Screamfest, it is not open year-round, so that’s something to keep in mind. The Toronto Zoo is always a hit as well and is the largest zoo in all of Canada, not to mention the theme park Centreville located on one of the Toronto islands which can be reached by taking a short ferry ride across Lake Ontario.

For the Foodies

With Toronto being a popular destination for immigrants to land, the food also happens to be very diverse. Whether you want to do some fine dining, visit a food market, or check out one of the many food festivals that occur throughout the year, you won’t be disappointed by the delicious food the city has to offer. Some particularly notable restaurants are the 416 Snack Bar, the Maple Leaf Tavern, and Richmond Station. For the amazing views of the CN Tower alone, we should mention The Porch, a rooftop patio right in the Entertainment District. It even has rooftop skating in the winter, such a truly Canadian activity.

Looking To Get Out Of Downtown Toronto? Make Your Way To Niagara Falls

Although you could probably spend months and never run out of fun things to do in and around Toronto, you’d be missing out if you didn’t take a day trip south to not of Canada’s top attractions: Niagara Falls. Apart from the waterfalls themselves, there’s plenty of amusements, a wax museum, casinos, and Ripley’s Believe it or Not. You can take a ride on the Maid of the Mist, a tourist boat company that takes guests under the falls on the Niagara River. Or, if you want to stay dry, you can check out the city from the sky on a helicopter ride or view it from the giant Ferris wheel.

Wine Country

But perhaps one of Ontario’s best-kept secrets is wine country. Because of where the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake is situated amongst the great lakes, it has a unique climate that is perfect for growing grapes. Over fifty wineries are located in the Niagara Region, making it the perfect place for full-day outings hopping from one winery to another! There are many wine tours running to make this possible and there are rental bikes if you’d rather pedal around at your leisure.

With so many to choose from, it’s hard to know where to start. Some of the most notable ones are Peller Estates, Wayne Gretzky Estates Winery and Distillery (yes, it’s owned by the great one!), Stratus and The Hare Wine Co. The latter is known for their Winter Wonderland Icewine Experience, but private tastings are available all year. Because of their uniquely flat topography, maximum sun exposure results in full-bodied wines. You’re bound to end up taking a few bottles home.

Full of History

Not only is the town itself absolutely beautiful and resembles a postcard, but it is also where you will find the Fort George National Historic Site, Butler’s Barracks and the Laura Secord Homestead. History buffs will be in their element learning about their involvement in the war of 1812 and watching reenactments. Picnic areas are abundant if you want to grab some prepared foods at one of the many cafés and relax.

Making Day Trips Around Toronto Has Never Been Easier

If you haven’t already stopped reading this to book your trip to Toronto, what’s stopping you from doing so now?

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