Just how good is Canadian Icewine! Recently
Royal DeMaria
Chardonnay icewine went on sale at $30,000 for
a half litre .
Because of the lower yield of grapes and the difficulty of processing, ice wines are more expensive than
table wines . The high sugar levels lead to a slower than normal fermentation. They are often sold in half-bottles (375 ml).
The average price is $45 - $60
~ Inniskillin
Located on the Niagara Lakeshore Inniskillin co founders Donald Ziraldo and Karl Kaiser played a major role
in making icewine synonymous with Canada.
The winery began producing icewine in 1983. In 1991 they won
one of the world most distinguished wine awards the
Le Grand Prix d'Honneur
Vinexpo, Bordeaux for their 1987 Icewine
The immense mouth feel and sensation when savouring them make them a heavenly memory. It is our soil and climate that allows us to seduce the world with this wine Karl Kaiser Winemaker
For more on Inniskillin
~ Reif Estates
Also located on the Niagara Peninsula of Ontario, winemaker became working with icewine in the early 1980's . When noted wine critic Robert M Parker rated their 1987 icewine among the best wines he had ever tasted. The demand for icewines surged and the winery went from producing 1,300 liters to 20,000 in 1998.
Among their numerous awards Challenge International du Vin Competition.
2001 Gold Medal - 1999 Vidal Icewine VQA, Olympiads du Vin Competition. This elite competition is open to only the gold medal winners at the Challenge International du Vin.
For more on Reif Estates
~ Pillitteri Estates
In 1988 Gary Pillitteri as an
amateur
won a gold medal for his Icewine. He opened his winery i 1993 and
currently stands at 600,000 litres. The winery has been honoured with close to 400 medals, at both domestic and international competitions. These include the coveted Civart Trophy from the Challenge International du Vin, in Bordeaux, France, and a rare Double Gold Medal from the American Wine Society in the United States.
Their flagship wine -Icewine.
Pillitteri Estates Winery is Canada's largest estate producer of Icewine, using the Vidal, Riesling, and Gewürztraminer varieties to produce Icewine that is exported to more than twelve countries worldwide
for more on Pilliteri Estates
~
Peller Estates
Part of the Andrés group of wineries the Peller estates is located just outside of Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Their wines have capture numerous Gold Medals in competitions around the world. Their 2004 vintage was sensational.
In the Okanagan they produce
Trinity Icewine
Vidal Blanc (62%), Riesling (27%), Ehrenfelser (11%)
Icewine is a rare gift from a magical Canadian winter. Picked at the coldest moment of a winter's night, each frozen grape creates just one drop of Icewine. One smooth rich, luxurious drop.
for more on Peller Estates
~ Pelee Island Winery
One of Canada's first icewine producers. Located on Pelee Island of Lake Erie . They were the first to net their vines for icewine. They made Canada's first red icewine from Lemberger. Their 2004 Vidal Icewine won Gold at every major competition.
for more on Pelee Island Winery
~ Tinhorn Creek
Located in Oliver British established in1995 Winemaker Sanadra Oldfield has been producing award winning icewine from Kerner grapes.
They produce only a limited volume.
For more on Tinhorn Creek
~ Summerhill Pyramid WInery
Located in British Columbia's Okanagan Valley this organic winery claims to be Canada's most visited winery
Stephen Cipes began making Riesling icewine in 1992. At one time his Pinot Noir icewine was Canada's most expensive wine.
Their Zweigelt icewine has an even higher price
For more on SummerHill
There are two wineries in Canada that produce only Icewines
~ Paradise Ranch
Has office in Vancouver BC and Vineyards in the Okanagan. They produce only icewines. Their first vintage was in 1998, when we produced 8 varietals of Icewine using over 300 tons of frozen Icewine grapes from the Paradise Ranch vineyards. This represented approximately 75% of the entire British Columbia Icewine grape harvest.
~ Royal DeMaria Wines
Established in 1997 in Vineland, Ontario. The winery has one objective to be Canada's Icewine Specialists. Winemaker Joseph DeMaria has made over 24 different icewines.
