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The Instacart guide to ice wine
Have you heard about ice wines? Learn more about them in the following guide to ice wine.
About ice wine
According to winemaking history, in 1794, winemakers were forced to come up with a new type of wine from the frozen grapes in their vineyards during a frigid winter in Germany. The result was a wine with extremely high sugar content and an amazing flavor. By the mid-1800s, the Germans regularly created what they deemed "eiswein" or ice wine.
Ice wine is a highly sweet wine with increased levels of sugar. In fact, this wine has almost double the sweetness of Coca-Cola. This dessert wine contains flavors such as citrus, honey, tropical fruits, and stone fruit like peaches and apricots. Ice wine made from white grapes holds the freshness of its base grape well. Red ice wines have more general fruit flavors along with a light spicy aroma. All ice wines are typically low in tannins, and the alcohol by volume (ABV) level varies depending on the region in which the grapes are grown.
Ice wine is produced by processing frozen grapes around 20°F or minus 7°C. Harvesting these grapes can be a painstaking process. The grapes are picked from the vine when frozen and brought into the winery for processing. About 10-20% of the liquid in the frozen grapes is used during the ice-wine production process. Since the juice contains such high amounts of sugar, wine production can take between 3-6 months before the wine is ready to be bottled. Once fermentation is complete, ice wine has a 10% ABV level and approximately 160-220g per liter of residual sugar.
Grapes used to make ice wine grow extremely well in cold climates, which is why they make some of the best ice wines available today. Many of these grape varieties include Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Gewürztraminer, riesling, Grüner Veltliner, Chenin Blanc, and Vidal Blanc.
With its vibrant fruit flavors and high sugar levels, ice wine is most definitely a dessert wine. This wine is great paired with desserts such as cheesecake, vanilla pound cake, ice cream, coconut ice cream, fresh fruit Panna Cotta, and white chocolate mousse. If you prefer a more savory late-night snack, you can pour yourself a glass of ice wine and enjoy a soft cheese such as Brie, Camembert, or any goat cheese.
Types of ice wine
Winemakers can produce ice wine from both red and white grapes. Each region offers grapes full of unique flavors, refreshing aromas, and a range of sweetness levels. The following are the most common types of grapes used in ice winemaking:
- Riesling: Riesling is a grape of French origin and is the most widely planted grape in Germany. You can also find this grape in countries outside of Europe, such as the United States and Canada. Riesling contains notes of orchard fruits such as nectarines, apricots, Honeycrisp apples, and pears.
- Vidal: The Vidal is a frost-resistant grape, making it ideal for creating ice wine. This ice wine is popular for its floral and fruity sweetness and its well-balancing high acidity. The wine also holds notes of caramel, butterscotch, and apricot.
- Gewürztraminer: While vulnerable to frost, this white-wine grape yields a harvest of lychee-scented grapes during the colder seasons. You can find this vine across Europe, the Americas, New Zealand, and parts of the Middle East. The wine's aroma includes rose petal, tropical fruit, mango, peach, and spicy flavors such as ginger and cinnamon, along with lychee.
- Other Varieties: While the above three grapes are the most common for making ice wine, you can also find the following red and white grape varieties in this dessert blend wine: Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Blanc.
Tips for choosing ice wine
- Country of Origin: Try ice wines from different regions, such as Canada, Germany, France, Australia, or the United States.
- Alcohol Content: While ice wines vary in the amount of alcohol they contain, they typically range from 8-9% in alcohol content. German ice wines are usually lower in AVB, while Canadian wines are higher.
- Grape Color: Red ice wines are usually sweeter than white ice wines and contain notes of berries, candy, and dried figs. They are made from Merlot or Cabernet Franc grapes. White ice wines are typically produced from Riesling grapes and have undertones of peach and citrus.
Ice Wine Near Me
Buy your favorite Ice Wine online with Instacart. Order Ice Wine from local and national retailers near you and enjoy on-demand, contactless delivery or pickup within 2 hours.
FAQs about ice wine
Since ice wines are expensive to make, you can expect to pay more for an ice wine than other types of wine. Ice wine requires about five times the amount of grapes as other wines to produce one bottle. Plus, grapes used for making ice wine must be hand-picked. You can expect to pay about $30 for a bottle of ice wine and sometimes much more. Canadian ice wines are generally more than $50 for a 375mL bottle.
Save time and money by ordering your favorite ice wine through Instacart. Open the Instacart app on your mobile device, tablet, or computer; add your favorite wine to the cart, and choose your preferred delivery date and time. Once your purchase is complete, an Instacart shopper can have your ice wine at your front door in as little as 2 hours!