During my 2023 summer holidays in Canada I bought three bottles of Icewine. Each one made with a different grape variety: Riesling, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Since then I tasted all of them. Below the reviews.
Trius Showcase Riesling Icewine 2019: The colour is deep gold. On the nose honey, marmalade, dried apricot, candied pineapple. In the mouth mandarin, with a balance of sweetness and acidity. The aftertaste is citrusy and very long. For this 385ml bottle I paid 68.85 CAD (47.30 CHF) at Toronto’s airport.
Inniskillin Cabernet Franc Icewine 2022: The colour is medium copper. On the nose plenty of raspberries, with rhubarb. In the mouth strawberries and cherries. The aftertaste is sweet and very long. For this 385ml bottle I paid 99.95 CAD (68.30 CHF) at the winery.
Two Sisters Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine 2019: The colour is deep salmon. On the nose wild strawberries and fresh rhubarb. In the mouth plumps and strawberry rhubarb pie. The aftertaste is very long. For this 385ml bottle I paid 99 CAD (68 CHF) at the winery.
To make Ice-wine grapes are picked frozen at an average temperature of -10°C. The juice is inoculated using a very carefully selected yeast strain that can withstand high sugar levels.
Canada is the world’s largest Icewine producer, making more Icewine than all other countries combined.
Ice wine is usually made from white grapes Riesling and Vidal. Ice-wines made with red grapes varieties such as Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon are much rarer.
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Grapes: Riesling, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
Type: Sweet
Vintage: 2019, 2022
Producer: Trius, Inniskillin, Two Sisters
Price range: Luxury (>100 US$)
Pascal’s Enjoyment Index: 4/5