While January brings a post-holiday hush to many parts of Ontario, that’s certainly not the case in Niagara. The thermometer’s initial big sub-zero dip, which typically occurs in late December or early January, marks the onset of Niagara’s Icewine harvest, ushering in a fresh crop of frost-fuelled fun.
Icewine is a luxury product that’s a true labour of love for many Niagara wineries. The painstaking process of producing it involves leaving the grapes on the vine until they freeze. Because the grapes are so high in sugar, a frosty 0°C doesn’t cut it when it comes to freezing the fruit’s sweet liquid. In order to comply with Canadian wine laws, grapes used for Icewine must remain on the vine until temperatures drop to at least -8°C. Then grapes are picked, often by hand, and harvested while still frozen. Icewine grapes only produce about a fifth of the juice of their unfrozen counterparts that are harvested in the fall, which is why the product is often affectionately referred to as Liquid Gold.
With glitzy galas, intimate winery events, cocktail-making competitions and outdoor street celebrations, Icewine season in Niagara is an experience that deserves a spot on every wine lover’s bucket list.
The annual Cool as Ice Gala, held at Niagara Parks Power Station, is a one-of-a-kind evening soiree that brings together 25 different Niagara wineries to showcase a decadent selection of Icewines. Guests can also enjoy Icewine cocktails, complementary food pairings prepared by some of Niagara’s most talented chefs, live music and arts performances in a festive atmosphere on the brink of Niagara Falls. Get your tickets early. This January 18 event is sure to sell out!
Niagara Wine Festival’s Icewine Discovery Pass, offered on January 10 -12, 17-19, and 24 – 26, invites pass holders to indulge in this celebrated dessert wine with their choice of six seasonal wine and food pairings served at 28 different wineries throughout Niagara. Niagara’s wineries pull out all the stops when it comes to cooking up creative wine and culinary combinations. This year’s 28 delightful pairing duos include Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine and Lemon Cream Shortcake at Creekside Winery, Gewürztraminer Icewine with a savoury Caramelized Onion Tart topped with Double Smoked Bacon, Crème Fraiche, and Aged Cheddar at Malivoire Wine Company and Chef Frank Dodd’s Icewine Chocolate Beignets alongside Cabernet Franc Icewine at Trius. Delicious vegetarian, vegan, and mocktail offerings are available, as is a “mini-pass” for those who only have time to visit three wineries, and a convenient shuttle service.
Historic Niagara-on-the-Lake has been taking its Icewine celebrations to the streets each January for over two decades! This year, the town’s Heritage District will transform into a sparkling winter wonderland on January 18, 19, 25 and 26. Local wineries will pour their favourite Icewines for visitors to enjoy alongside tasty food pairings from area restaurants. The friendly weekend event features live music, roaring bonfires, sparkling ice sculptures and plenty of family-friendly Niagara wine country fun.
Those who prefer to dig a little deeper into the Icewine offerings of a specific winery or two have plenty of options to add to their Icewine itinerary. Wineries with dedicated Icewine tours and events include:
• Lakeview Wine Co.’s exclusive Ice Flights
• Inniskillin’s Icewine Experience
• Peller Estates’ Greatest Winery Tour, which includes an Icewine tasting in the 10Below Icewine Lounge, an igloo-like room constructed out of 13,607 kilos of ice and kept at a frosty 10º below zero
• Chateau Des Charmes Iced and Glazed Experience
• Reif Estate Winery’s Icewine Dinner
Icewine is equally as delicious shaken or stirred into a signature cocktail, and Niagara’s mixologists love to showcase it as an ingredient. Must-try Icewine Martinis to add to your Niagara sipping selection include the offerings at Zees Wine Bar and Grill in Niagara-on-the-Lake, AG Inspired Cuisine, and Prime Steakhouse Niagara Falls. For the ultimate Icewine cocktail experience, be sure to attend Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Icehaus Icewine Cocktail Competition and DJ Party on January 25.
In addition to all the Icewine festivities, frosty temperatures create many other fun ways to experience Niagara on the rocks! Enjoy ice skating on an outdoor rink at Wayne Gretzky Estates or Pillar and Post. If the thermometer makes a drastic drop, catch a rare sighting of Niagara Falls suspended in time. A winter hike at a Niagara Geoparks site that is home to a smaller waterfall, like Ball’s Falls Conservation Area, Louth Conservation Area, Rockway Conservation Area, or Short Hills Provincial Park, is another excellent way to discover the sub-zero spectacle of an icy cascade.
Are you ready to start planning your own Icewine getaway? Check out our Wineries, and Winter pages and @visit_niagara on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for trip inspiration and to learn about upcoming events. Then, browse through accommodations and dining options to discover places that will perfectly round out your trip!
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