By: Icewine: A Royalty | Wi-Not

Icewine: A Royalty | Wi-Not — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 19:53:19 +0000

[...] Canada (http://wi-not.biz/2010/01/canadian-icewines-tasting-in-delhi/), amongst Icewine making regions will surely reserve the top spot. The laws are made, implemented, and controlled by Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA), local governing body. They are have higher levels to adhere to and are stricter than the rest of the countries. These laws have restricted production areas, minimum harvesting temperature (-8⁰C instead of -7⁰C elsewhere), minimum Oechsle level when grapes are picked (almost equal to sugar level in percentage, 35 degree), restricted grape varieties, and other similar controls. Main grape varieties used are Riesling, Vidal, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Muscat, Semillon, and Gewurztraminer in whites, and Tempranillo, Cabernets, Merlot, Syrah, and few other local ones amongst the reds. The biggest, also debated as the first, commercial producer of Icewines is Karl Kaiser who headed Inniskillin. No chapter would be complete without mentioning their 1989 Vidal Icewine, winner of Grand Prix d’Honneur at Vinexpo 1991, highest award a wine can get. It today stands as the only sweet to have won this accolade. They are also responsible for introducing sparkling style Icewines. To add to the respect, VQA claims to have trademarked usage of the term ‘Icewines’. Vidal and Riesling have won maximum recognition to the country for its produce. Germany makes ice wines and calls them Eiswein. They are assigned the highest quality level and are generally sourced from region of Rheinhessen. They use Muller-Thurgau, Riesling, and Sylvaner in whites, and Cabernets, and local grapes under reds. These wines sit on the top-tier (under QmP) of the quality wine classification. Unlike the Canadians, the winemakers here look for grapes that are totally healthy and are not infected by Noble Rot. Thus the wines are fruitier, fresh, and made to be consumed young. When paired with Mediterranean desserts, the wines seem to be over powering too. Austria contributes a small yet considerable amount to the market. Gruner Veltliner is an important grape to produce its fairer style, while they reserve their local varieties to produce the red style. Luxembourg makes a small contribution to this segment. There wines are called Vin de Glace, term derived from their French counterpart. Eiswein, in France, was a style introduced by the Germans to the region, like to Canada. The segment is now shrinking in production and importance. They use only the local ‘Noble’ varieties to produce this style of wines (http://wi-not.biz/2010/03/alsace-the-french-white-wine-gem/). [...]

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By: Icewine: A Royalty | Wi-Not