As the temperatures begin to drop in Ontario wine country, winemakers start preparing for the icewine harvest. All eyes are on the thermometer as they wait in anticipation of the required -8 C that’s necessary for picking frozen grapes that deliver that unctuous sweet nectar called icewine.
It’s an exciting time and visitors from all over the world have begun to anticipate the start of Niagara’s Icewine Festival, according to Wine Country Ontario. While the harvest date of icewine changes every year, the time for its biggest celebration is always the same, taking place over three weeks in January, right in the heart of Niagara.
“Niagara’s Icewine Festival is a signature Wine Country Ontario celebration that offers visitors the opportunity to discover and experience a Canadian treasure — icewine,” Allan Schmidt, president of Vineland Estates Winery and chair of the Wine Council of Ontario, says. “No other wine region in the world offers wine lovers an opportunity where they can experience a wine country that has turned into a winter wonderland.”
The Icewine Festival is a unique celebration, where consumers have the opportunity to discover and enjoy Canada’s most distinctive and delicious wine. During this special time, wine enthusiasts, cocktail fans, foodies and music lovers can all choose from a collection of icewine related events reflecting the authentic and local flavours of Ontario, the Wine Country Ontario news release says.
The celebrations kick off on Jan 9 with the annual Xerox Icewine Gala at the Fallsview Casino Resort. Also featured throughout January are street festivals in both Twenty Valley’s Jordan Village from Jan. 10-11and Niagara-on-the-Lake from Jan. 16-18. New this year, Icewine Festival programming includes events in Niagara Falls. Visitors will have the chance to sip on icewine, try icewine inspired creations, check out ice sculptures, listen to live music, and sit cosy by a fire all while embracing what icewine means to Canadians.
Visitors can also purchase a Discovery Pass, where they can choose from over 35 wineries and culinary experiences along the Wine Route. Along with a variety of icewines, visitors will also have the opportunity to taste Ontario’s sparkling wines and VQA red and white wines.
For full details on all Icewine Festival events, download the following press releases and event summaries for January 2015: Niagara Icewine Festival Release, Niagara Icewine Festival Brochure, Niagara-on-the-lake Icewine Festival Release, and Twenty Valley Winter WineFest Release.
You can also visit:
• Niagara Icewine Festival
• Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake
• Niagara-on-the-Lake
• Twenty Valley
• Niagara Chilled
• Wine Country Ontario
For information on Icewine facts visit the Wine Country Ontario media centre for the Story on Icewine.
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