ICE WINE, A GIFT FROM THE CANADIAN WINTER

Ice Wines are amazing wines that are mostly produced in Canada and Germany. Ice Wines are a type of dessert wines produced from grapes that have been frozen while there were still on the vine. The freezing happens before its fermentation and the magical thing is that the sugar in the grape does not freeze but the water does.

Ice Wine Grapes.
(picture from Flickr by Dominic Rivard)

These wines are usually expensive, as its production process is more intense, risky and the amount of produced bottles is rather small. The grapes are picked by hand during the extremely cold winter season (17 degrees Fahrenheit) and workers have to struggle through the intense snowing in the middle of the night. How amazing is that!

You could find great Riesling, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Franc Ice Wines not only in Canada but also in Oregon and Washington, as the Pacific Northwest is an important producer in the United States.

Canadian red Ice Wines
(picture from Flickr by Craig Hatfield)

The Ice Wines are considered rare luscious nectars that are enjoyed with dessert, before dessert or even as a dessert. You could even enhance a dish like Foie Gras, duck or lobster with a classic Ice Wine served very frozen.

Peller Estates Icewine in Canada, produce well known ice wines and you could find in their website (http://www.pellericewine.com) different recipes for a superb dinner. Check it out, enjoy their “Ice Wine story movie” and plan your next winter trip to Canada!

Ice Wines are a truly gift of a winter night; magical and romantic...

FUME BLANC, LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT…

Robert Mondavi's entrance gate

Two years ago, I was lucky to travel to Napa Valley for the first time in my life and I totally felt in love with the valley. Tough I visited many different vineyards; Robert Mondavi’s winery was by far one of my favorite wine tastings ever. I chose their “Twilight Tour” which is a 90 minutes tour and tasting at the time when the sun sets over the valley. A Wine Educator takes you to the cellars and teaches you about the whole wine process and concludes at the edge of the To Kalon Vineyard with an amazing tasting and artisanal cheese board. Definitely, a very Mondavi moment!

But at the beginning of the tour, we were gathered outside in the vineyard and our Wine Educator Peter brought for all of us some bottles of their unique Fumé Blanc. According to him, the term “Fumé Blanc” was a made-up name created by Robert Mondavi in the sixties to assign his own blend of Sauvignon Blanc (92%) and Semilion (8%). The French word “Fumé” means “smoke” but that is not related to the wine in itself; it refers to a thick fog that you experience early in the morning in the Loire Valley (France) where most of the Sauvignon Blancs are produced.

The Fumé Blanc is in fact a drier version of the typical Sauvignon Blanc. It is fermented in French oak barrels first and then it is transferred to stainless steel barrels to retain its freshness. It offers intense aromas of lemongrass, lime blossoms, hints of sage and spice. Its color is bright, clear and almost pale and it definitely tastes out of this world!

Have you ever had a magical experience?

I did; and it was at that amazing sunset in October at Robert Mondavi’s winery.



OTHER ARGENTINE WINES

People always expect to have Argentine Malbecs, but there are other red wines that are also “superstars” in Argentina.

Puerto Madero - Buenos Aires, Argentina

Let’s take the Bonarda, also known as “Charbono”, which originated in the Italian Piedmont region and now is widely produced in Argentina. This varietal offers a lighter-bodied, much fruity plum flavors and deep red color. Try the 2007 Altos Las Hormigas Colonia Las Liebres Bonarda that is produced in the province of Mendoza, Argentina.

Another surprise is the Italian grape Nebbiolo which is hard to find out of Italy and it is well produced by the Arizu’s family. The first vines that they planted were brought from Europe in 1901 and slowly adapted to the new hard environment and soil conditions in Argentina. This type of Nebbiolo offers a mix of ripe plum, roses and wild raspberry.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Last but not least, you could also enjoy great Pinot Noirs like the ones produced by Clos de los Siete, Miraflor Pinot Noir 2006 and you would be able to experience a big mocha coffee nose, creamy berry fruit flavor, perfect to match with a traditional wood fire grill Argentine lamb with roasted potatoes.

It’s always good to try something new and take a risk.

Cheers!