b'THE CORKBOARD|WINTER 2022For the Love of LIQUID GOLDSweet and sublime, Canadian Icewine illustrates how time and again, great things come from this cold, vast countrytory has it that Icewine was discovered by happy accident in the late 1700sTechnically speaking, Icewine can be made using many different varietals, but best results come from grapes boasting complexity in Germany when an early frost had of flavour, exceptional aromatics & high acidity. In Canada, farmers scrambling to save their crops. typical varietals include Riesling, Vidal, Gewrtztraminer and Cabernet Franc. The wines extraordinary signature sweetness Fast-forward to the 1980s when several winemakers in the Niagaracomes from the fact that grapes are plucked frozen from the vine, region recognized cold-climate Ontario as an opportunity forwhen the frosty vine-yard air reaches -8 to -12C. Then, theyre crafting the iconic sweet wine right here at home. immediately pressed to extract their rich, golden, concentrated juice. In fact, Germany may be credited with inventing Icewine Inniskillin winery co-founders Donald Ziraldo & the lateor Eiswein, but its climate does not ensure a harvest every year. Karl Kaiser were pioneers in the category. An Austrian by birth,Thats not true for Canada where were guaranteed the winemaker Kaiser was familiar with the iconic sweet wine fromrequisite, frigid temperatures.his homeland and attempted Inniskillins first vintage in 1983. Alas, birds devoured that sweet crop before it could be picked Icewines intense sweetness accounts for its positioning as the so the first bottling didnt occur until a year later. The duoultimate dessert wine, but its so much more than that. With established the countrys Icewine dominance when theyits concentrated nature and balance of sweetness with acidity, captured the Grand Prix dHonneur trophy at the 1991 Vinexpoits tailormade for cocktailing, delivering exponential flavour International wine competition in France with their 1989with very little volume. Hello Icewine martinis! Serve it chilled Vindal Icewine. The rest, as they say, is history.about 10-12Cand pair with both savoury & spicy dishes. Its sweetness plays perfect palate counterpoint to intense herbs In 2000, Inniskillin teamed up with the reputed Austrian crystaland chili heat. And dont forget the cheese tray: Icewines company Riedel to create a signature Icewine glass. The reasoning:harmony with rich & robust cheeses from Brie to blue isJust as there is a purpose-built flute to enhance the attributes oflegendary. Remember too that, unlike regular table wine, Champagne, so too should there be unique glassware to optimizeIcewine will keep in the fridge for up to a month once opened, the glorious character of Icewine. The collaboration resulted inso you dont have to enjoy the entire bottle at a single sitting. the Vinum Extreme, a small tulip-shaped glass crafted to enhanceFeel free to forgo the cheese or dessert course altogether. the delivery of fruit aromas to the nose and the most balancedThe sweet & nuanced elixir provides a truly exceptional overall expression of the liquid. tasting moment all on its own.WINE pROFILE|15'