The Niagara Region’s Icewineries: Wine Tasting in a New Light
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Wine tours have long been popular in the realm of unique vacations; but for anyone who’d like to take the novelty of such a getaway to a whole new level, Canada’s Niagara region – and its famous Icewineries – await.
One of the most intriguing aspects of a wine tour is learning the history behind a type of wine, a winery or a region that yields the wine – none of which are an exception when it comes to Icewines. The discovery of Icewine in 1794 was accidental when, out of necessity, winemakers in Germany pressed frozen grapes – the resulting juice of which was found to have an unusually high concentration of sugar. It wasn’t until the mid 1800s, however, that the winery intentionally began to produce Icewine for distribution.
The production of Icewine did not extend to Canada until 1973, after which time the venture proved to be a huge success. Today, Canada – and particularly, Ontario’s Niagara Peninsula region – is the largest producer of Icewine, a product that’s often referred to as “liquid gold”. That’s because the juice from Icewine grapes composes about one-fifth the amount that would be extracted from unfrozen grapes. For instance, if the grapes of an unfrozen vine produced a bottle of wine, the grapes of a frozen vine would produce just one glass of Icewine.
The Icewine harvest begins in the winter months – typically, in December – once temperatures drop below -10 to -13 degrees Celsius and grapes have frozen on the vines. Natural freezing concentrates the sugars, acids and extracts, thus intensifying the flavors of the juice; then, as the frozen grapes are pressed, the highly concentrated, sweet juice is extracted. The natural water portion, however, remains in the grape skins as ice crystals. The juice is then fermented very slowly over the course of several months to produce Icewine. Typical grapes used for ice wine production include: Riesling Seyval Blanc, Vidal Blanc and the red grape Cabarnet Franc.
The Niagara region hosts an ice wine festival every January to celebrate the fruit of each year’s harvest. Locals and tourists alike can indulge in ice bars, frozen art exhibits and tours through Niagara’s famous wine routes – alongside, of course, a taste of some of the region’s most exquisite Icewines.
If you’re considering taking an Icewine tasting tour in the Niagara region this winter, rest assured that there are plenty of fantastic options for accommodation in Niagara Falls. The Doubletree Resort Lodge & Spa Fallsview, Niagara Falls, for example, features an award-winning VQA wine list, including Icewine by the glass or bottle at Buchanans Chophouse. So you can get started on the wine tasting before you even hit the festival or your tour!
By touring Niagara’s Ice wineries, you’ll learn about the unique processes involved in making Icewines, as well as have the opportunity to try some of the most exceptional wines in the world. So what are you waiting for? Take the novelty of a wine-tasting tour to a whole new level – experience the Niagara region’s famous Icewines.
Martin Mcallister
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/the-niagara-regions-icewineries-wine-tasting-in-a-new-light-93236.html
How do I make wine out of non-alcoholic wine?
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I live in Kuwait and want to make wine (with alcohol) out of non-alcoholic wine. I heard I can just add yeast (or yeast and sugar). Does anyone have experience with trying this?
I know I can make wine out of grape juice but want to try it with non-alcoholic wine so it has more flavor and body.
Any help would be appreciated.
First, check the ingredients. If it contains any preservative, don’t waste your time. If not, add sugar and a yeast such as Montrachet.
If you want more flavor and body from juice, you may be able to do this by adding concentrate or frozen juice to your grape juice.
California Wine Tours
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If you are planning on visiting California, you should take some time out to visit some of the popular wineries. California wine is reputed worldwide. With the amazing weather and the beautiful scenery, wine touring in California is a brilliant way to experience and taste some of the fine vintage US wines. With more than 200 days of sunshine every year, the climate in California is ideal for the wine business. There are 6 predominant varieties of wine in California.
There is the Sauvignon Blanc, a white wine that has a herbal or melon taste and tastes best when accompanying seafood. The Chardonnay has a buttery taste and usually complements seafood and chicken. Among the red wines, there is Pinot Noir, which is fruity and Merlot, which can be either floral or fruity in taste. Then, there is Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel that are spicy, herbal or fruity. Along with these varieties, there are many other types of wines available to tempt your taste buds. The wine tours not only offer an insight on how wine is made, but also on how and when to taste the wine. Tourists are informed about all the local events and annual festivals that focus on wine harvesting and processing.
Even though wine is produced in many places in and around California, the most famous areas are definitely Sonoma County and Napa Valley. The primary focus of any wine tour is wine tasting. When touring California, the some tour guides present their guests with a bottle each of their favorite wine. Apart from touring the vineyards and viewing the different facilities and processes that are a part of wine making, there are many companies that provide virtual tours. These tours are designed for those tourists who are interested in visiting the wineries and vineyards, but dont have the time to actually go on a tour. It is advisable for all, to go on a virtual tour, before you sign up for a real one.
When you are on a wine tour, you might probably end up drinking a lot of the wine offered. It is important to take a good driver along, in case you are touring alone. There are various tour services available, which range from deluxe to regular. Wine touring companies in California offer personal guides and even limousines for you to enjoy the whole experience, luxuriously.
If your day is filled with fun activities, like visiting a casino or taking a sunset cruise on the San Francisco Bay, perhaps you should leave the wine touring for the nights. In case you feel like indulging further, a customized private tour is worth trying. The options may vary from gourmet lunches and limo tours for couples, to accommodation and wine tours. The private tours cater to the needs of everyone. Besides this, there are picnics arranged for small or large groups and other team events are designed as well.
California wine tours are usually in association with the various California wine clubs. The tours are romantic and rewarding. A wine tour is primarily designed to enable you to enjoy the best, luxury and good health, while sipping on a glass of your favorite vintage.
Kris Koonar
http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/california-wine-tours-94686.html
what wine do you use to make beef wellington?
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what kind of merlot, wine, sherry is used to make beef wellington?
someone else is cooking it and asked me to buy the wine so not sure what kind to buy she said a merlot? which type of merlot would go good in there?
need brand name and cost details as well as which grocery store.
A full bodied dry red wine, such as cabernet sauvignon or a bordeaux are both great choices for beef weelington. Use the wine to deglaze the juices from the bottom of the pan after you have sauteed the meat. Once you have placed the meat on the puff pastry, pour the juices on to the beef wellington and pour the sauce on top of the meat prior to adding the pate on top of the meat. Use a good red wine and serve the same red wine with dinner.
how long do you wait to drink home made wine after adding a campden tablets?
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I added one campden tablet to a gallon of wine. I dont smell anything but heard it wont be good for about six months.
The campden tablet is used to kill off the yeast. It dissipates in about 24 hours and the yeast is dead. After that, it depends on you. You can allow the dead yeast to settle to the bottom and have a clearer wine or you can start drinking it right away. You could also add some oak chips, either toasted or un-toasted depending on whether it is a red or white wine, and age for 2 months to 1 year and then bottle the wine. I usually age my reds on toasted oak for at least 6 months and my whites on un-toasted for at least 3 months. After they age I sweeten them according to how I intend to use the wine; if it is to be served with dinner it is left dry, for a before-dinner serving gets lightly sweetened and for a dessert wine it gets sweetened slightly more.
Good luck and enjoy!
The Evolution Of the California Wine Industry
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The association of the California style of wine with deep flavors, forward fruits, high alcohol and a hint of oak, is a thing of the past. However, its a common belief that America witnessed an increase in the revenue of the wine industry, in recent times. The U.S. and Canada were previously accused of favoring beer and spirits over wine, till the magical effects of wine were discovered by the present generation. The burgeoning California wine industry has an origin, prior to the Prohibition in the 1920s. Over 140 wineries had sprouted all over the Napa Valley alone, in 1889.
The Spanish government banned wine grape cultivation in Mexico after the wine industry started competing with Spanish imports, in the late 16th century. The effects of the prohibition were evident in Mexico till the 20th century. The California missions, throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, needed wine on a regular basis. Fr. Junipero Serra at the Mission San Diego de Alcala planted the first vineyard of California in 1769. Fr. Serra brought the Mission grape to California, supposedly from cuttings brought from South America. Though, initially this grape was not considered to be ideal as a table wine, by the mid nineteenth century over 4,000 acres were cultivated around the missions.
Immediately after the Santa Cruz Mission, in 1804, vineyards were planted throughout California. Owing to the deforestation by the lumber industry, vineyards sprouted up on the Santa Cruz Mountains in the following years. Padre Jose Altimira planted several thousand grape vines at the northernmost mission, twenty years after that. Los Angeles had its first European table grape varietals plantation cultivated by Jean-Louis Vignes, in 1833. Richard Henry Dana discussed the wine of early California in his historic account of life on the California coast, in 1934. George Calvert Yount planted the first vineyard in Napa Valley, in 1836.
In the mid nineteenth century, most of the table wines consumed in California were Portuguese imports. Portuguese red wine, cooked in the sun on sailing ships and inadvertently oxidized, was made palatable by sweetening them. This led to the commercialization of Madeira wines, one of the most preferred wines in America. Till date, whenever wines take on a tinge of brown because of being old or due to poor cellaring, they are said to be maderized.
However, consumerism has played a significant role in determining the quality, quantity and even the process involved in wine making. The English designed a rating system for French wines in the eighteenth century and also created Sherry and Madeira. Consumerism steered the California wine industry and later the market determined that the wines should be a little sweet and smooth on the palate. In addition, the market demanded that the acid level should be low. Thus, owing to these requirements, the wine industry had to turn grapes used for making table wines for processing several base wines.
Unlike cheese lovers, wine lovers have better options, as they can find good wines in the supermarkets, provided they know which ones to choose. The market is the most powerful factor that determines not only which varietals will sink or swim, but also which ones will thrive.
Kris Koonar
http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/the-evolution-of-the-california-wine-industry-98618.html
Is it expensive to make your own wine and beer?
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If i wanted to make several gallons each of beer and wine a monthe, (10-30), how much is the cost?
Kapil T, though i'd love to own a winery. I'm now looking for homebrewing in the basement of a modest home.
I'd like average costs of ingrediants per gallon.
no. it is actually very cheap. a basic wine or beer starters kit is around $50.00. the actually ingredients are very cheap, and you can reuse bottles over and over again for containers. it is really a fun hobby and fairly inexpensive. fyi…you may want to get a brewers guide. it helps a lot.
Le Nez Du Vin 54 Aromas Professional Wine Appreciation Kit
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Wine Gifts – Le Nez du Vin from Find-me-a-gift
Le Nez du Vin 54 Aromas Professional Wine Appreciation Kit
Le Nez du Vin is a game of wine aromas to master the art of wine tasting. Le Nez du Vin is both educational and fun, it helps you develop your sense of smell, your ability to recognise the aromas of wine and how to describe them.
Contents:
Le Nez du Vin Professional Wine Appreciation Kit has 54 aromas in small bottles of the essential scents found in white and red wine from around the world. They give you an indication of the wines origin and the grape variety as well as the vineyard, the wine making techniques and the ageing conditions. (Normal RRP £220).
Le Nez du Vin Wine Tasting Kit has 54 illustrated explanatory cards. These cards describe the aromas and a list of wines in which they are found. A booklet which explains why the taste of wine depends on its aromas and suggests three different ways to improve your sense of smell.
Le Nez du Vin Professional Wine Appreciation Kit has all 54 essential aromas including: Lemon, Grapefruit, Orange, Pineapple, Banana, Lychee, Melon, Muscat, Apple, Pear, Quince, Strawberry, Raspberry, Redcurrant, Blackcurrant, Bilberry, Blackberry, Cherry, Apricot, Peach, Almond, Prune, Walnut, Hawthorn, Acacia, Linden, Honey, Rose, Violet, Green pepper, Mushroom, Truffle, Yeast, Cedar, Pine, Liquorice, Blackcurrant Bud, Cut Hay, Thyme, Vanilla, Cinnamon, Clove, Pepper, Saffron, Leather, Musk, Butter, Toasted Bred, Roasted Almonds, Roasted Hazelnut, Caramel, Coffee, Dark Chocolate, Smoked.
This is the English version other languages are available too: Spanish, German, French, Italian and Deutsch.
PLEASE NOTE THIS PRODUCT CAN ONLY BE SHIPPED TO CUSTOMERS LIVING IN THE UK.
PRESS COMMENTS ON LE NEZ DU VIN:
Wine Magazine International – Been meaning to hone your wine tasting skills? Then look no further than this fun educational kit. …this will help you fine tune your sense of smell and learn to identify aromas that distinguish a wine’s origin and grape variety, wine making techniques and even ageing conditions.
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Wine Appreciation Kit for Red Wine
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The Wine Game
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Corkpops
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Flashing Wine Glass
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Adopt a Vine Gift Pack
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Wine tasting Experience for two
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Wine Appreciation Kit for White Wine
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Find me a gift have over 1000 gift and gadget ideas for men, women and children.
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What kind of grapes should I plant to make Riesling wine?
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I would like to make a sweet riesling wine. I live in a warm climate, Eastern Washington. I have a large area to grow in, but don't want to go over board. I plan on doing thorough research, but wondered if anyone on this forum had experience in wine making. Thank you!
You should plant Riesling grapes, but be advised it will be a few years before your vineyard is ready to produce wine! Best of luck!
Wine Making In Tuscany – A Perfect Tour
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What do France, Italy, Spain, Australia, Chile, the United States of America, Romania, Germany, Portugal, Moldova, Hungary, South Africa, Croatia and Argentina have in common? Wine and wineries. These fourteen countries lead the world in the export of “vino.”
Italy is second only to France in the production of wines, and it’s all thanks to the famous region of Tuscany – or Toscana as the natives call it.
You’ll find Tuscany in the center of Italy. The famous fashion capital Milan is far to the north, near the borders of France and Switzerland, while Rome is a little to the south. Tuscany is a jewel set between the Tyrrhenian Sea on the west and the Apennines mountain range on the east. It consists of ten provinces, including Pisa (famous for the Leaning Tower of Pisa). The capital city is Florence (and it is here that you will find the historic Uffizi Gallery.)
Wine making in Tuscany is just as historic as Italy’s architecture and art. Indeed, it extends as far back as the beginning of time.
The History of Tuscany
Tuscany was first settled by the Etruscans in around 800 BCE, who quickly discovered the wild vines growing in abundance on the “sun-drenched” hills, and these grapes were carefully cultivated to improve their flavor.
Several varieties of grapes are grown in the region. Some of these grapes stand on their own when it comes to wine making – for example Cabernet Sauvignon comes only from the Cabernet Sauvignon grape, and the Lambrusco grape produces a variety of dry red wines: Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro, Lambrusco di Sorbara, Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce, and Lambrusco Reggiano).
Other wines are a blend of grape varieties. The famous Chianti is a blend three grapes -two red: Sangiovese and Canaiolo, and Malvasia, a white. (Although, there’s a story there. Until the 19th century Chianti was made only from the Sangiovese grape. A famous Italian statesman, Bettino Ricasoli, decreed that chianti should be made of the blend of three grapes. But since 1995 that practice has been dying out and most Chianti these days is again made only with the Sangiovese grape.)
The history of the evolution of a certain wine is just as fascinating as the history of the vineyards from which they come.
If you are a wine lover taking a vacation in Tuscany, you’ll want to visit a vineyard or two. Or more! You’ll find fourteen “wine roads” throughout the region – each one famous for the wine production from a particular type of grape. Follow each road and stop in at those companies and cellars which are open to the public.
Each of the provinces of Tuscany have at least one wine road – Florence and Grosseto have three each. Each road has its own sign system that indicates the wine it deals with, and the towns or places to stop of interest on it.
So renowned is Tuscany for its wine-making that several international travel firms offer tours devoted strictly to the wine lover. If you don’t feel like exploring the Italian countryside on your own, one of these tours – with like-minded people, will be just the thing for you.
Alastair Hamilton
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/wine-making-in-tuscany-a-perfect-tour-87477.html