During my university days in Toronto, one of the many weekend getaway options would be visiting Niagara Falls. The waterfall itself was beautiful for sure, but there’s more—this is also where the Niagara Peninsula wine region is situated, in which rare, delicious and expensive ice wines are produced. Ice wines can only be made in the coolest wine regions in the world. Healthy, frozen grapes are picked carefully—by hand—in the middle of winter. Since the moisture in the grapes is frozen, the remaining juice will be very concentrated, sweet and almost syrup-like, suitable for making sweet ice wines. Most are produced in the Niagara Peninsula, but other parts of Canada such as the Okanagan Valley, as well as Germany and Austria, also produce, although in smaller quantities. Usually mildly aromatic, low in alcohol, luscious yet also refreshing, this is the ultimate sip to be savored during the winter, preferably after a hearty meal. Try Calona Vineyards Private Reserve Ehrenfelser Ice Wine 2005 (¥380) and Inniskillin Ice Wine Vidal oak-aged Niagara Peninsula 2006 (¥980) from Pudao Wines (6562-1800).

by Paul Wong of Winechi.com