The holiday season brings family gatherings, holiday parties, and along with it…sweet treats! Our 2019 Riesling Ice Wine is a treat in and of itself, and can also be a perfect wine to pair with some of your favorite holiday desserts.
Ice wine is made by a complex process to create a delectable, sweet dessert wine. In hopes of reaching the perfect conditions to make ice wine, a portion of fruit is left on the vines each fall to reach high sugar levels beyond typical harvest and into freezing temperatures. If conditions allow - a minimum of 24 hours at less than 17 degrees Fahrenheit - the grapes are harvested frozen as this crystalizes the water in the pulp, concentrating the sugars. The still-frozen berries are then pressed off, producing low yields of very sweet, concentrated juice which is fermented slowly. Our 2019 Riesling ice wine was fermented in 600L barrels at cool temperatures, then fermentation was stopped with 214 g/L of sugar remaining and aged in 500L barrels for 18 months.
The resulting wine is mouthwatering and aromatic with aromas and flavors of citrus blossom, honey, peach, apricot, caramelized stone fruits, graham cracker and orange rind with high, lively acidity to balance the sweetness.
This sipping wine can be enjoyed as dessert or paired with desserts that are slightly less sweet, and have a generous amount of fat for balance. Some holiday favorites to enjoy with ice wine include:
Apple pie
Pumpkin pie or cheesecake
Crème brûlée
Peach cobbler
If you prefer to keep the sugar to a minimum, ice wine also pairs wonderfully with more pungent cheeses such as gorgonzola or a softer cheese like brie. It is also spectacular with a Chile-spiced white chocolate such as JCoco’s Cayenne Veracruz Orange White Chocolate – a fantastic gift idea for that hard-to-buy-for someone!
Note: If you’d like to try this delicious dessert pairing of Almond Kringle and ice wine, you don’t have to go to Ballard! QFC and Molbak’s typically carry Larsen’s Kringle during the holidays and other grocery stores may too – you’ll find it in the bakery section.