Guide to Ice Wine in Canada
Okay, don’t judge me, but I hadn’t really heard of ice wine before our trip to Canada. I had literally no clue on any of it! Now, it’s no secret that I’m a sucker for anything wine-related, so as soon as I heard about ice wine in Canada, I knew I had to visit one of the vineyards. It just all sounded so intriguing and totally delicious.
Following a little stroll around some of the vineyards that produce ice wine in Canada, I can now firmly say it isn’t just a slushy of wine and ice in a glass. Yup, I admit it, my mind went to a big gulp glass of a slushy when I first heard of ice wine. 🤣
Thankfully, this isn’t the case and ice wine is something of a treat and requires lots of expertise to produce. 🍷
What is Ice Wine?
It probably helps for me to give you a really brief explanation of how ice wine is made, after all, I had no clue what it was before our visit. At the simplest level, ice wine is produced by planting vineyards in seasonal climates that freeze in winter. Once the vines grow in the summer, the grapes are left on the vines to freeze in the winter months. Now, this is where the magic happens, it’s actually only the water in the grapes that freeze, meaning the sugars can be separated from the water to produce so it can be separated before the fermentation process.
After a healthy bout of pressing and fermenting, sweet ice wine is finally made. It’s very similar in character to a dessert wine and is often sold as such.
Best Vineyards to Visit for Ice Wine in Canada
With that in mind, I wanted to share some of the best places to explore and try ice wine in Canada and especially in Ontario. 🇨🇦
1.) Peller Estates Winery
Peller Estates is one of my favourite places and vineyards to try ice wine in Ontario. Perched close to Niagara-on-the-Lake, it’s a stunning estate that has an amazing winery tour that also includes a visit to their frozen bar called, 10 Below. It’s the perfect spot to try ice wine in Canada. Afterwards, make sure to grab a table at the Winery Restaurant – they serve up some of the tastiest food in the area. I loved it.
2.) Konzelmann Estate Winery
Konzelmann Estate Winery is considered to be Niagara’s only lakefront vineyard. Now, Konzelmann actually started long ago in Germany (where ice wine comes from) but after switching continents they brought their expertise to Canada. Specialising in Vidal varieties, Konzelmann Estate has some of the best ice wine in Canada to try.
3.) Rancourt Winery
Rancourt Winery is a family-owned estate perched in the heart of Niagara. The best thing about Rancourt is that it’s open 7 days a week and has an epic tasting room and guided tours to join. As with most vineyards, they don’t just focus on ice wine in Canada and have a selection of other wines to try, too.
4.) Chateau des Charmes
Chateau des Charmes makes some of the best Vidal ice wine in Canada and it’s a vineyard that’s pretty easy to visit when in the Niagara region. Join either their Winegrowing Discovery Tour or their ‘Four @ Four’ tour that includes 4 different wines at 4 pm.
5.) Wayne Gretzky Estates Winery
You might recognise the name (if you’re Canadian), no? If not, Wayne Gretzky is a former ice hockey player that’s somehow dipped his toes into various ventures across Ontario, including his Estates Winery & Distillery. Once here, make sure to try their Cabernet Franc ice wine; it’s so delicious.
6.) Between the Lines Winery
Between the Lines Winery offers two really nice ice wines to try (my favourites) that I hope you love. Once you arrive at the estate, make sure to see if they have the 2016 Cabernet Franc Icewine or the 2016 Vidal Icewine, both quite special. They also host unique events, including art tours, yoga, and stargazing tours.
7.) Reif Estate Winery
The Vidal ice wine at Reif Estate has won multiple awards and is well-known in the region for its quality and taste. You can visit the vineyard and estate to explore the gardens, grab a charcuterie board at the wine bar, or join their group or private tours that run almost daily.
8.) Inniskillin Wines at the Brae Burn Estate
About a 25-minute drive from Niagara Falls, Inniskillin Wines is a lovely spot to visit. Make sure you try their Inniskillin Riesling varieties, perfect for those who love sweet wine.
9.) Niagara Ice Wine Festival
Although it’s not a vineyard or estate to visit, it is one of the best ways to try many ice wines in Canada. Typically held for about 2-3 weeks in January, the Niagara Ice Wine Festival has become a tradition in Niagara-on-the-Lake (around Queen Street).
You can see more about upcoming ice wine festival events here.
