Discover Walla Walla

Nope. I'm not talking about a new slushy wine drink found at the local corner convenience store. Ice wine (or Eiswein) is about a frosty little shriveled grape that produces an intense sweet nectar like no other.

Frozen grapes were used to make wine during Roman times, as far back as AD 23. And you might think it is easy as putting the grapes in the freezer, but it's not that easy if it is an authentic ice wine or Eiswein.

The history behind these little bottles of Mother Nature's nectar started in Germany post-Roman ice wine in the 1830's. The winters were harsh and grapes were typically left on the vines to be used later for livestock feed. Winemakers later noticed the frozen grapes were producing a sweet concentrated juice. Since temperatures of 20F( -7C) or below are required, we mostly see ice wines produced in Germany, northern states of the US and the biggest production now comes from Ontario, Canada.

It is almost an event while waiting for the right temperature to go out into the vineyards in the middle of the cold night to harvest the frozen grapes. The frozen little nuggets are then rushed back to the winery where they are immediately crushed before they thaw out. The little bit of juice that is extracted from the shriveled chilled grape, eventually becomes a sweet, yet acidic wine. Since ice wine doesn't come easy, they are typically sold in splits (half bottles) and can range in price from $30 to $100. 

There haven't been a lot of ice wines found in the Walla Walla Valley until recently. And I suspect as we face a future of extreme weather around the world, we may be seeing more of these hard-to-find treasures. Check out the ice wines produced in Walla Walla : L'Ecole No. 41 2008 Estate Semillon Ice Wine from the Seven Hills Vineyard. Only one barrel of 2008 Semillon ice wine was produced at College Cellars. Zerba Cellars at the Stateline also has a 2008 Semillon ice wine from the Walla Walla Valley (obviously 2008 was a cold winter). Tytonidae Cellars in Walla Walla features a unique 2005 Merlot ice wine. And the word is that Tertulia Cellars is patiently waiting for the right time this month to harvest their ice wine vintage for 2009. Brrr!

Enjoy these special gifts from Mother Nature as a slow sipping aperitif. They pair beautifully with cheese and fresh fruit such as with pears. Feature ice wines as a dessert by themselves or pair with a crème brulee. When it comes to gift giving, ice wine is a splendid gift to keep on hand in the cellar. Cheers!