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Top 5 Ice Wines in Canada and the Best Estates That Offer Them
Spending winter in the country has made me fall in love with ice wine. There’s just something about sipping this dessert wine amidst the crisp Canadian air that cemented it as a traditional activity every Winter for me.
However, you can freely consume this wine anytime, as it’s a great partner for fruit-based desserts like tarts and cheesecakes. If you don’t know which ones to get, you’ve come to the right place!
We’ve listed some of our favourite bottles below and included the distilleries where you can find them. Continue reading to discover the next addition to your wine collection!
Pillitteri Reserve Icewine – Pillitteri Estates Winery
Media credit: pillitteriwines
Address: 1696 Niagara Stone Rd
Contact details: +1 905-468-3147
Operating hours: Daily from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Cost: $$-$$$
As the country’s largest estate producer of ice wine, it’s a no-brainer to include it on your list, whether you consider yourself a wine connoisseur or not.
Out of all their offerings, their Vidal Icewine is the most widely praised because of its rich flavour and subtle sweetness. They also carry bottles of vintage ice wine that may never be produced again—oh, and their reserves are stored in gold-embossed bottles.
The winery is also worth a visit, especially with their offered tours, because you’ll get to explore their beautiful vineyard and learn about the process of making ice wine. The tour is also a must if you want to know about the history of the multiple generations behind this winery.
Pro tip:
Check out the Special Offers page on their official website to get better deals on their fine selection. While you’re there, you can also check out the Tasting Tours and secure your date since their schedule gets filled up quickly.
Whistler Pinot Gris Icewine – Bench 1775 Winery
Media credit: bench1775winery
Address: 1775 Naramata Rd, Penticton
Contact details: +1 250-490-4965
Operating hours:
- Friday to Sunday, Wednesday: 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Thursday: 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Cost: $$$
Bench 1775 Winery is, hands-down, one of the most beautiful wineries in the country. It offers visitors unobstructed views of the majestic Okanagan Lake and the surrounding mountain range.
This, paired with their fine selection of wine, makes their tasting tours one of the most coveted among wine connoisseurs. However, one bottle that stands out from their selection is the Whistler Pinot Gris Icewine, which exudes orchard fruits in a concentrated form.
They produced this wine back in 2017, and it’s made from a grape variety that can be found in Northeastern France, making it a rare bottle. It costs CAD61.75 per bottle, which is steep, but a must-have, especially if you love biscotti and cheese.
Pro tip:
If you’re wondering how their bottles of wine would pair with sophisticated meals, we recommend making reservations at their Bench Patio Bistro! This will allow you to pair their signature wines with Asian dishes like dim sum, Korean BBQ beef tacos, etc.
No. 99 Vidal Icewine – Wayne Gretzky Estates
Media credit: notesandnose
Address: 1219 Niagara Stone Rd
Contact details: +1 844-643-7799
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Cost: $$$
Wayne Gretzky Estates is one of the newer wine estates in the country, but it’s quickly climbing the ranks thanks to its sophisticated collection. Plus, if you’re named after the widely renowned GOAT of ice hockey, you’re something special.
You wouldn’t have to look further than their golden No. 99 Vidal Icewine to recognise the quality of their products. This ice wine features notes of fruits like peach, apricot, mango, and tangerine, but its sweetness never oversteps, as the acidity balances it out.
The individual characteristics of the aforementioned fruits immediately explode on the tastebuds, from the tanginess of the tangerine to the sweetness of mangoes, etc.
Pro tip:
Consider visiting this winery if you’re a big fan of whiskey as well! It’s one of the few wine estates in the country that also features a fully-fledged distillery.
Reserve Riesling Icewine – Jackson-Triggs Okanagan
Media credit: jacksontriggs
Address: 7857 Tucelnuit Drive
Contact details: +1 250-498-4500
Operating hours: Daily from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Cost: $$$
Jackson-Triggs has been around since 1993 and has won several awards for its bottles of wine over the years. One of the prime examples of this is their amazing Reserve Riesling Icewine, which won the gold medal at the San Francisco International Wine Competition.
It’s not hard to see why, either, as this fantastic dessert wine features a vibrant mouthfeel. Your tastebuds will also be bombarded with notes of apricots and peaches, making it a perfect pairing with different types of cheese and cured meat.
The winery is worth highlighting as well, as it’s easily among the most scenic in the country. From the mountain-surrounded vineyard, down to the tasting rooms, everything in this place is begging to be taken photos of.
Pro tip:
Follow their official IG page or check out their website to be updated on their concert series! These shows are held at the winery’s outdoor amphitheatre, so you can combine your wine-tasting experience witha fun and upbeat party!
2019 Riesling Icewine – Malivoire Wine Company
Media credit: malivoire
Address: 4260 King St, Beamsville
Contact details: +1 905-563-9253
Operating hours:
- Friday to Wednesday: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Thursday: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Cost: $$$
Malivoire Wine Company is located along King Street in Beamsville, which is lined up with countless wineries. However, we chose this specific company for this list because of their amazing 2019 Riesling Icewine.
Aside from the usual fruity notes of apricot and peach, what made us fall in love with this bottle is its subtle notes of brandy. With a 9% total of residual sugar, this ice wine features a perfect level of sweetness.
Lastly, we want to highlight this winery because of its efforts to promote sustainability by minimizing ecological footprints in its harvesting methods.
Pro tip:
If you live in Ontario and can’t make the drive to Beamsville, you can order your favourite bottles on their official website! You can also enjoy free shipping if your order is CAD150 or more!
