This Niagara-on-the-Lake celebration in January is a tribute to all things Icewine, the region’s most exquisite treasure.
(NC) This Niagara-on-the-Lake celebration in January is a tribute to all things Icewine, the region’s most exquisite treasure.
The distinctive growing conditions in Niagara are a result of the warm summers and cold winters and this allows Icewinemakers to reap the benefits of a specialized harvest. Usually under a moonlit sky, icy grapes are picked and then pressed while frozen so that only the naturally concentrated sweet juice is fermented into a dessert wine with intense flavours and aromas. Made in only three countries around the world, each year Niagara celebrates its good fortune with a month of incredible events and a one-of-a-kind uniquely Canadian experience in the heart of wine country.
Highlights include an evening of ‘Sparkle and Ice’ hosted in the historic courthouse on Queen Street in Niagara-on-the-Lake. It is a celebration with Icewinemakers sharing favourite VQA wines paired with their own craft plus inspired dishes by signature kitchen chefs. And due to its popularity, each year the iconic outdoor Icewine Bar is a staple at the ‘Icewine Village’ when the historic Queen Street is transformed into an icy winter wonderland featuring extraordinary taste treats from the 26 Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake.
The celebration is also alive with winter activity if you are up for the challenge. For example, you might enroll in an ‘Intense Icewine Weekend’, roast an Icewine marshmallow over an open fire, or discover a new favourite wine at an Icewinemaker’s dinner.
January is also filled with much to see and do, from sipping a signature creation at the Icewine Cocktail Competition, to having a few laughs at the ‘Icebreaker’s’ comedy show, to spending the day simply shopping, sipping, sampling and savouring. This is a time to celebrate the luxurious and alluring wine that captured the imagination of the Ontario winemakers more than 25 years ago.
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